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Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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1: Augmented Genesis (edited)
šŸ…°ļø 5
šŸ‡¬ 4
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana woke up in her bed.
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Dana checks her phone to ascertain the day of the week and time.
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It is the day after she went to sleep. Currently about 7 AM.
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After doing this, I fully wake up and undissociate (ressociate?), using first person narration for the rest of the campaign, since it comes much more naturally as a way of thinking.
2:10 PM
((i just want to know if. it’s fucking a day where i have to work. unless you’re leaving this up to me))
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Okay. I have a little time, unless they want me in unreasonably early. I’m lucky they’re so lax with clocking in, but Angela might be close to her last straw. Praying that I’m permitted to have a bathroom despite not mentioning this in the list of possessions, I head into my bathroom.
2:22 PM
In the quantum superposition bathroom, I proceed to stare at myself in the mirror and think about being attractive to others for thirty seconds before giving up and defaulting to the Dana Craig cut where I look like shit but in a specific enough way that it looks like it must be an active choice for whatever reason. I also brush my teeth. This is important to me.
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((Dana does have to work today))
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I check my fridge for a form of morning hydration, only to realize I never specified having any water. I don’t feel like showing up to work drunk. I make a mental note of the lack of water. I could drink tap. I guess my feelings aren’t that well founded. But fuck tap. TAP SUCKS. Need to stay in line with the image of a cool rebel who doesn’t trust the government.
2:29 PM
I guess I’ll just go, then. If I’m earlier than the shift schedule says I’ll just leave equally early tonight. Fair’s fair. Dana gathers her daily belongings and exits her home.
2:30 PM
By which I mean I do that.
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I think about sex for three and a half seconds while opening the door, but do not elaborate on the details.
2:46 PM
Any metatextual existence is impressed by my generosity.
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Philip is standing in front of your neighbors door, as he looks through his phone.
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I take a deep breath and prepare the mask that we all wear. ā€œEhhhhh, hello Philip!ā€
2:49 PM
ā€œMorning.ā€
2:52 PM
((neighbor as in Ariel I assume))
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((Yes))
2:58 PM
"Oh. Hey." He didn't look up from his phone.
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Really? That was a lot of social battery energy, dude. Could use a little more enthusiasm. That’s the problem with the world nowadays, all the phone addiction. I immediately take out my phone and idly browse twitter as I walk.
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Advehnt Guard
Online / twitter / Ask Sentasaurus a question!
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@NotsoElusiveSentasaurus Get to interact with me! Official Q&A channel, ask me anything but don't get racist/sexist/political (EXCEPTIONS BELTO SHELK) (edited)
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what race do you find most sexually attractive
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Dear @ThatsTheFishVan on twitter, (edited)
12:36 PM
Society: Cultured about Race Sex
12:37 PM
Me: I dont give a shit, people are people (edited)
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Dana Craig
what race do you find most sexually attractive
BigJohnsFilmsFan12: Woah! Not cool, man!
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((This almost made me spit out a bunch food holy shit what))
3:01 PM
I reply to BigJohnsFilmFan12 with a zoomed in unflattering screenshot of his pfp, and the text ā€œim racismā€.
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@Dana, Insolent Fool of Omelas What are your opinions on the ethics of clone murder?
3:03 PM
You're a headass if you can't answer lol
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like in a sexual way
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In any way
3:04 PM
Doesnt matter
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you do you man
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Satisfied with the balancing of conversational inertia in fucking with the community of a moderately popular content creator for the sake of a not very good bit, I check if I have successfully used my legs to maneuver to the place where I work.
3:09 PM
What kind of a name is that anyway? You’re an e-celeb, that’s not elusive.
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Dana arrived at work.
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Whoopee.
3:14 PM
Anyone here?
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Michelle is managing the register.
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I smile. ā€œMorning. Hopefully I’m on time.ā€
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"Morning!" Michelle smiled back enthusiastically.
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I head to whatever the fuck the place I’m supposed to stand is i don’t know what concept exists that isn’t the register. ā€œYou ever see the movie Clerks, Michelle?ā€
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"No, is it good?" She responded.
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ā€œIt’s alright. Very avant-garde with the plot structure. Mostly just two people talking about life or movies or whatever. It’s only at the end that anything ā€˜happens’. I’m uh, just bringing it up since the leads have the same sort of job we do.ā€
3:33 PM
ā€œā€¦ā€
3:34 PM
ā€œThe main guy is called in to cover for someone else’s shift, so he’s all grumpy the whole time, talking about how he’s ā€˜not even supposed to be here’. It’s a line that always stuck with me. Guess he’s a good actor.ā€
3:36 PM
((DID I WIN DID I SAY AVANT-GARDE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE))
3:36 PM
((didn’t even notice until I finished typing the sentence))
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((I think you were first, yes))
3:38 PM
"Well, that sounds like a lame movie. I think the plot is pretty important."
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ā€œMmm. Maybe. The counterpoint would probably be that the substance of the film, aside from comedy, is created in exploring the mindsets of its lead characters. Don’t have a particularly strong opinion myself.ā€
3:43 PM
ā€œOn a personal level, I’d probably prefer to be in a more plot-heavy story. There’s no meaning in running through the motions and learning about other people on a deeper level if nothing ever happens.ā€
3:44 PM
I smirk, but not in the confident or smug way. ā€œAt least the guy in Clerks wasn’t single.ā€
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"What's that supposed to imply?" She stared at Dana in confusion.
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ā€œWhat?ā€ I’m also confused. ā€œNo, it was lighthearted self deprecation. I don’t know anything about whether youā€¦ā€ ā€œA-anyway! It’s a weird movie, that’s all. Got sidetracked there.ā€ I focus a bit more of my attention on like stocking shelves or whatever it is I’m doing.
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"Dating shouldn't determine how much value you have."
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ā€œWell, not in moral terms or some nonsense. But it’s valuable for the person in question, yeah? People do it for a reason.ā€ I am certainly not making eye contact by this point.
3:53 PM
ā€œHow do you value a person anyway? The nice and neat answer would be that every human life is worth the same, and that’s like, a pretty large amount.ā€
3:53 PM
ā€œBut what are you even talking about at that point? I’m not the same as Belto Shelk in any meaningful way.ā€
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"I don't see how that changes anything."
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ā€œIt changes a lot! If Shelk wanted tomorrow to be a federal holiday, he… well, I guess there’s probably some steps to that, but he could do it! I can’t. There’s an unbridgeable gap there.ā€
4:00 PM
ā€œObviously I don’t mean specifically holding power over tomorrow’s date, or even just legal stuff, it’sā€¦ā€
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"Why would you even want tomorrow to be a federal holiday?"
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ā€œI don’t! I mean, not particularly. It’s not like I have plans. It was an example.ā€
4:03 PM
ā€œThere’s gotta be something you wish were the case, but just can’t do anything about it, right? That’s just being a person.ā€
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"Well, it used to be like that I guess…"
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ā€œMaybe that’s my problem. You’re supposed to have big dreams as a kid or a teen that you give up on when you enter the real world. But I never bothered. My goals were always to just live through the immediate future and fuck around.ā€
4:13 PM
ā€œI mean, this certainly wasn’t my dream job, but it wasn’t some backup plan I was forced into tragically. I just… ended up here.ā€
4:14 PM
ā€œThat’s what bugs me the most. I’m doing fine right now, I really can’t complain about my life. But what if this is it? Where Dana Craig peaks?ā€
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"Well, I think it pays off to appreciate the here and now. You gotta stay happy."
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ā€œProbably true. It’s only a problem when you’re dwelling on it, I guess.ā€
4:20 PM
ā€œI’m not gonna have some life-changing event just fall into my lap, after all.ā€ I am stocking a box of cereal while saying this. ā€œSo it’s either do something myself, or just settle with what I have. And I don’t have the energy for the former.ā€
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"That's fair, I guess. Anyway, my shift is ending soon. You mind if we switch, I gotta restock a few shelves first."
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ā€œSure.ā€ This happens.
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Michelle begins stocking a few shelves yup.
4:29 PM
"Morning." An old man entered the store, picking up some cigarettes.
4:29 PM
physical description of this man:
ā€¼ļø 1
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Advehnt Guard
Online / twitter / immxrtxlity007
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vulgar šŸ @immxrtxlity007 Bio: what if they made video games real??? / enemy of the state / the bitch who lived / im who you think Location: ninth circle of hell Website: https://tinyurl.com/2p8zk982 Joined within the last few months 666 following 504 followers šŸ“Œ Pinned Tweet idk who the fuck this ā€œimmorality06ā€ guy is but the suspension was deserved freedom of speech is for pussies
2:48 PM
you guys think youre a lot funnier than you are
2:48 PM
ok
2:49 PM
gay men and also straight women should all be removed from this websdrt and
2:49 PM
;
2:49 PM
ima ltie durk
2:51 PM
cloutless [There have been no posts after this point.]
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i have never ā€œjokedā€ in my life
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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ā€œMhm.ā€ I don’t judge this man’s drug habits, but I do judge his outfit.
4:32 PM
In this world, it’s I kill you you kill me
⭐ 1
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He hands the cigarettes over to Dana at the register for purchase.
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I scan them or whatever. ā€œThat all?ā€
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"Yeah, should be. What, do people usually pick up 5 course meals here?"
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I shrug. ā€œFeels like it sometimes.ā€
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"Well, I'll be sure to bring the squad around for food." He joked, but didn't quite smile.
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ā€œHah.ā€ I laughed, but didn’t quite laugh.
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He left with his cigarettes.
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((Do you understand the concept of a convenience store? Hah. Clerk Humor.))
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"Okay, that's it for my shift." Michelle grabbed as much cup ramen as she could carry, and came to the counter. "I'll scan these for myself, can you just tell Angela I'm heading out. She's in the back."
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ā€œOh, um, sure.ā€ I forgot about the back.
4:57 PM
I go to ā€œthe backā€.
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It is a single cramped room that barely qualifies as an "office" as it shares 80% of it's space with spare stock. Angela is at the desk.
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ā€œHey, Michelle’s shift ended, so she… left… though, I guess you’d know about her schedule.ā€ Yeah, she would, she fucking makes it I think. So why am I here? Why did I just SAY that she would know that? Now it’s obvious that I have no reason to be here and that I know that, and I’m in this stuffy room just to… waste everyone’s time. God dammit Michelle, what were you thinking?! Was this intentional? Now I’m stranded with no purpose with this bitch, and it’s all your fault!
5:17 PM
Dana waits to see if she gets a response.
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"Cool." She replied.
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’Cool’? COOL? The verbal equivalent of static, and it’s met with ā€˜cool’?! Just ā€˜Ok’ or a vague grunt would’ve been fine, but fucking cool???? Are you taking pity on me? Does it amuse you, watching me squirm, Angela Dimarzio? Do you like seeing me struggle under the pressure? You sick f ā€œBack to it, then.ā€ I head back (away from The Back).
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Michelle is gone now. (edited)
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This is true.
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I imagine several alternate versions of that conversation where I leave having thoroughly owned her. Also she’s more openly hostile and dismissive of me beforehand so that behavior makes sense. Also we’re in the White House for some reason. It’s the time pressure, that’s what it is. I would’ve totally been fine if that sort of interaction happened online. God I’m bored.
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It’s not my fault. I can be a little rough around the edges when I joke with friends or strangers, but I’m always all cordial and shit when interacting with her. If she would just not be so… giving me the cold shoulder 24/7, then we, it… would be a lot more tolerable day to day.
5:44 PM
And she’s the fucking manager! She’s the reason I’m here, the reason I come in so frequently. If she doesn’t like me, why doesn’t she just fucking fire me? I’m glad she doesn’t, job searching is a pain, but it doesn’t make any damn sense.
5:46 PM
Maybe she doesn’t hate me, but if that’s the case, a little indication of this fact wouldn’t fucking hurt. I work my ass off here. These are my prime years or something and I’m at a convenience store, can I get a little recognition? What are you so preoccupied with, anyway? This place basically runs itself. Cigarette guy alone could probably offset costs.
5:50 PM
ā€Dana, come in tomorrow at 6.ā€ ā€œDana, you’ll need to handle the trash today.ā€ ā€œDana, I’ve received a complaint about your behavior.ā€ Do you not think of anything else? Am I the only sane one, the only real person, who recognizes what a waste of space this all is? There’s so much more to this life, and you could at least see a fraction of it if you left that fucking room.
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A hooded man entered and walked to the back of the store.
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ā€œHey, that’s employees only.ā€
5:51 PM
((I could’ve kept going lmao))
5:52 PM
I assume I don’t recognize the hooded man
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No I mean the back as in. The opposite side from the counter.
5:59 PM
Dana is free to ignore this man and keep thinking to herself.
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Dana Craig didn’t do the last message with dialogue sent. (edited)
6:03 PM
Maybe she has higher ambitions? I guess I could respect that. Just a rung on the ladder to some big goal. But everyone knows that you can’t let your career take over your whole life. This is like, an absurdly stereotypical personal flaw. You have to live a little.
6:08 PM
This is a thing I see all the time. Well, okay, I can only really think of Angela specifically. But it speaks to a larger issue. A lot of people can’t figure this out, make it some insane black and white thing. And it’s almost always women — not always, or universally, I’m not some weirdo sexist and I know I’m not like this — that fuck this up. They’re either completely uninteresting tradwives or veer so hard into the opposite direction to prove they’re above that sort of thing that they become an equally inhuman and uncompelling caricature of a ā€œgirlbossā€ or whatever. Why? How is this so easy to fuck up? Literally, why so serious? What is this temptation to let a dumbass obligation you have to go through to make a living define you? (edited)
6:13 PM
Thats the real misogyny, right? It’s this upholding of patrial standards. Was that the word? I have that feminist mutual, what are some of the things she said. I guess that sort of stuff was secondary to like… K-Pop. Which is fine! That’s exactly what I mean, a healthy balance, even if other people don’t do things quite the same as you. But it’s like, oh, we need to be equal now, so let’s like, do the men things verbatim. Like labor in this country isn’t fucked beyond repair.
6:15 PM
Am I disposable? Should I be glad that I’ve earned the ability to slave away here? It’s absolutely better than being sold to some sweaty feudal lord for a dowry or whatever, but surely there’s a situation where my life gets to be more interesting than this.
6:17 PM
Its not like—it really isn’t a gender thing completely. Like, it’s not cool for men either, I assume. I just don’t think about that because I’m not one. Sort of staying in my lane there.
6:21 PM
But that’s all I got. Stand at the sidelines and complain. And then get banned because apparently the leader of the free world can’t handle a store clerk telling him to kill himself. I can’t do shit. I don’t even know what I would do, if I became Belto Shelk. Obviously all that utopian marxist shit isn’t possible, much as I’d love not having to work. I don’t think ā€˜society’ is a thing that can just be ā€˜fixed’. I’d just set myself up to be well off, and then maybe some people close to me as well. Good luck to everyone else, but I’m not going to play the action hero and whisk you away from your shitty lives.
6:23 PM
People close to me? I don’t know, I guess like, I technically owe dad. And then maybe on a day I’m less pissed at her I’d do Michelle a favor and let her stop gaslighting herself into being ok working here. Beyond that, I don’t know, I guess it would be cool if some of the guys from high school were able to get together regularly again.
6:25 PM
If I became president, and pulled some strings for Angela’s benefit, she’d be super indebted to me. That would be…
6:26 PM
Well, regardless. That’s life and my place in it. I’m sure most people think close to the same when you get down to it. I get to be unique by being honest with myself about it. Woo hoo.
6:27 PM
Maybe I should take up writing. Have a ton of free time just thinking shit at this job. I don’t know if this could be a book or whatever, it’s more of, like the whole fully subjective experiences word, that thing where we can’t know if other people see the same orange as us.
6:29 PM
If other people exist at all. But that’s nonsense philosophy. Who cares if other people have internal monologues like me, they still tangibly affect my life. I don’t wonder if the fucking rain is sentient before trying to find cover.
6:30 PM
Its a little depressing, though. Like, the love thing. It’s supposed to be a whole connection between souls or something, where you know they feel the same way.
6:30 PM
Would put a damper on that if they were secretly a robot.
6:31 PM
But what if THAT is just a nonsense pretense? If love is lust, nothing else, dressed with a lot of convoluted words for conventions sake?
6:33 PM
…No. If I wanted just that, there’s plenty of material. An absurd amount. I can recreate that with material possessions, or digital ones, or with imagination or whatever. The heart… the heart is not so easily mimicked.
6:34 PM
Holy shit, ā€˜the heart is not so easily mimicked’?! Am I a fucking 14 year old goth girl, what the fuck was that. God. This is why I hate slow days. Interacting with customers can be annoying, but it beats this any day.
6:34 PM
I can’t stand just myself to talk to.
6:35 PM
…No, that’s fine. It was only the concept of other people that made me crazy. So the takeaway is… who fucking knows.
6:36 PM
This job should be illegal. Like, prisoners have laws protecting them from solitary confinement outside of extreme cases, and they’re murderers and stuff. It fucks you up.
6:38 PM
I guess I can slack off way more easily than them. As long as I’m confident enough the boss isn’t just around the corner, I can just dick around and get that sanity interaction from randos on the internet.
6:38 PM
I check my phone. …Who the fuck is Sean Niebel?
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Angela left the office.
6:41 PM
Without a word or gesture to Dana, she left the building.
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…Of course. Just part of the decor, then. Furniture. I spit in an adjacent garbage can.
6:44 PM
I check the time. Is it just. The time to leave
6:47 PM
((Nobody is even going to fucking read any of this))
6:47 PM
((scipe character monologue workshop))
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Dana's shift still continues for several other hours.
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Life is unfair
6:48 PM
I look just outside the store. Did she leave leave, or just have something to do outside?
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She hails a cab, and leaves.
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I decide not to be a stalker. I mean, how would that even work? I don’t own a car, and telling a cab driver to follow another cab feels like holding up an arrest me sign.
6:57 PM
Not that it would be a crime in my eyes. The worst outcome is I find out where she lives, and what does that matter? She already had to know all my personal info from the job application. I’m certainly not going to break into her house or anything psychotic, I’d just go ā€˜Oh.’, and then leave. And if she isn’t going home, that’s pretty clearly suspicious to just leave in a rush. She could be selling drugs, or something. You wouldn’t arrest a cop for busting into a perps hideout. I guess they need warrants. But I’m a private citizen.
6:58 PM
ā€œā€¦There’s still nobody here.ā€ How’s traffic in Avengard today?
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The hooded man approaches the counter with a can of cola. "Hey! (homophobic slur), do your job!" Traffic is pretty average for a monday at 2PM.
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I scan the can, and manually alter the price listed by the register to be ten times as expensive as a single can of cola should be. This time it is the smug asshole smirk. ā€œWill that be cash or credit, then, sir?ā€
7:07 PM
…Nobody drives in Avengard, anyway. Too much traffic.
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The hooded man slipped his hand into his pocket, but instead of extracting the promised money, he raised a gun to Dana's eye level.
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ā€œHa ha, gosh, it was a joke! Just messing with you, man. S-since when can you get that kind of shit inā€¦ā€ I imagine feigning being non-hostile and then executing a really sick disarming grapple, but since Dana Craig is a 22 year old without a college degree rather than a badass ninja with a college degree, I just stand there with my hands raised in alarm-surrender. (edited)
7:14 PM
((If I fcuking die here for this it will have been worth it))
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"Empty the money in the register into a bag."
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I breathe a sigh of relief. ā€œOk. It’s all insured, I bet. Who cares.ā€ I. Open the register without delay.
7:18 PM
Idk how registers work
7:19 PM
I do the thing the man with a gun is demanding I do (with implied threat that he will use the gun if I don’t)
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He grabs the bag, keeping the weapon trained on Dana. Then he slowly moves towards the exit of the store.
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I give him a thumbs up.
7:22 PM
7:25 PM
((sorry on the off chance you were relying on that outcome going another way but we’d need like ten more homophobic slurs for dana craig to do something))
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"Well, I think that went well." An unfamiliar feminine voice spoke.
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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ā€œWho?ā€ Dana swivels around and if she can’t see the source does a 360 like an idiot.
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There is a strange cat-like creature on the counter.
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Dana does not conclude that the cat (like creature) is the source of the noise because she’s not quite that far gone yet but she does yelp at the abrupt cat.
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"Hi!" She smiles.
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I consider using the pepper spray I carry with me to force myself to wake up but realize this would be unwise. I then remember that I have pepper spray and could maybe have used that earlier but that also would’ve been unwise so whatever. ā€œIf Grace did something to something I ate or drank or whatever, I swear to god… whatever. I’ll humor this. If anyone I’ve blocked from my sight can hear me, I’m currently having a psychotic break. But for now. Hello, cat.ā€
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"Please, call me Ehn." Ehn walks across the counter.
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((POG))
7:45 PM
ā€œSure, that’s the most reasonable demand I’ve received today. I’m Dana.ā€
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Dana Craig
ā€œI’m not gonna have some life-changing event just fall into my lap, after all.ā€ I am stocking a box of cereal while saying this. ā€œSo it’s either do something myself, or just settle with what I have. And I don’t have the energy for the former.ā€
The shelves shake in anticipation.
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"I'm here to offer you a deal." Ehn sat down in the empty cash register.
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ā€œOh, jeez, this is that one anime show with the… like, the girls or whatever. Haha. What is my psyche doing.ā€ ā€œWhat’s the deal? The part where I benefit and the part where I have to give something up, preferably.ā€
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"I will grant you an ability. I don't actually know what it'll be, but it's going to be a useful one. You can use it to steal back the money from that guy, and take it for yourself if you want."
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ā€œā€¦Well, alright. Guess I’d be pretty in the clear when there’s a recording of someone who is distinctly not me taking it. And in exchange?ā€
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"A favor. I don't know what it is yet, but I'll ask for your help down the line. That's all."
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Dana, who is me, grins. ā€œIf you’re a capricious asshole, what I say doesn’t really matter beyond you trying to mess with me. But if you’re the noble demon type, willing to stick to the letter of your own words… then yes, I believe I’d accept this.ā€ (edited)
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"Great! Now, the ability should manifest through an object. Don't lose or break the object, because you can't use your power without it." Ehn looked around the store, attempting to locate the new ability.
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ā€œWould it look any different from everything else?ā€
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"Only to me."
8:09 PM
Ehn located a typical notebook, and pulled it out, floating back to Dana with it.
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ā€œThis?ā€
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"Should be it. Try to do something with it, I guess."
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Nothing obviously unusual about the cover or pages, I guess. There should be a pencil or whatever nearby? I grab that.
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There is indeed a pencil.
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I write ā€œtestā€ in the notebook, then wait ten seconds.
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Nothing.
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ā€œā€¦ā€
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"Maybe write something specific?"
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I reach into the recesses of my anime knowledge, and write ā€œBelto Shelkā€.
8:20 PM
Then check my phone for the next minute or two to see if there’s imminent news about him dying or doing the stanky leg or whatever.
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The second Dana wrote the name in, her surroundings changed. She was seated on a bed in a bedroom far beyond her price level that she'd never seen before.
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((??;!$&(&(@@49)96@)&))
8:24 PM
I am going. To look at my arm.
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This is not the arm of Dana Craig.
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I laugh nervously and get out of the bed, trying to find a mirror to confirm.
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Dana spots a mirror inside a bathroom.
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My aim is to look at the light reflected by the mirror.
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this is what Dana Craig sees in the mirror.
8:33 PM
Her surroundings warp back to the store
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((animal I’ve become AMV))
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"What happened?" Ehn.
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ā€œI became him. Belto Shelk, I mean. It ended when I saw myself in the mirror, though it could be time dependent and I was just there by coincidence. Was my body still here on this end?ā€
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"Yeah. You just kinda stopped moving."
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ā€œInteresting… he was in bed when I shifted, though, so I can’t discount that he didn’t technically switch into my body while asleep. Lot of room to try things outā€¦ā€
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"But if you can become people based just off their names, try Marco Gould."
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ā€œAlright, don’t see why not.ā€ I write Marco Gould, successfully intuiting the spelling.
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Dana found herself running in an alleyway, clutching the bag she'd given to the robber.
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I, which for clarity’s sake will always refer to the preserved memories and personality of Dana Craig, laugh. ā€œMaybe I was too suspicious of that little guy.ā€ I try to get my bearings of where I’m located.
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An alleyway.
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This helps.
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Is she exiting the alleyway.
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Yeah, sure. What are they gonna do, arrest me
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D!Marco arrived back onto a road roughly 3 blocks from the storeé
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I throw his gun in a trash can. Don’t want an inopportune switching back. Then I try to find a place close enough to the store to leave the cash. A dumpster, or something.
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((Roll))
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((do i assume d6 or d20 or))
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((20. 6 was miscommunication))
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Dana Craig BOT 5/28/2022 8:56 PM
((19 HappyDays))
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There is a dumpster near the store that gets no traffic.
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Amazing. After my deposit, I wander around looking for a reflective surface. Two times and I’ll be sure it wasn’t a coincidence.
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Marco's face reflects in a car mirror, and Dana returns to the store.
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ā€œHm.ā€
8:58 PM
Ehn still here?
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Ehn is there.
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ā€œYeah, it’s reflections. I’m going to need to get that money and also figure out what I’ll do about reporting this incident. Anything else you need from me right now?ā€
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"No! But I'll be sure to swing around if you need me in the future!" Ehn begins to walk out of the store.
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ā€œBye, Ehn. Thanks.ā€
9:07 PM
Dana moves to write in the notebook, but realizes taking actual notes in it could have undesirable side effects. She instead opens up a notes app on her phone. If Steve Jobs or whatever is privy to her actions, so be it. For the first time in forever, Dana Craig has something to do. She moves with inhuman quickness relative to her normal state, which is to say she’s just standing in one place typing on her phone.
9:07 PM
I think of a whole third person monologue because of how caught up in the moment I am.
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General/Imminent
  • Is this real? Am I awake? All other concerns depend on this.
  • Retrieving money; just a bit would be fine. Lack means to unsuspiciously carry sack home.
  • Incident report. I randomly blurted out that there were cameras before, but I don’t actually fucking know if there are. Too late to call in now that there’s footage of me standing around idly after the fact?
  • Create excuse for inaction, feign idiocy
Ability
  • Think of cool name for it
  • Is becoming other people the actual core of it, or is that a specific instance of a more general principle? Try writing other non-name phrases
  • Is the bodyjacking something that actually happens and affects the real world or merely a means of information gathering? Check dumpster
  • Is there a time limit separate from the reflection rule? Test limits when possible, maybe during the night
  • Confirm the reflection rule; is a minimum amount of clearness required, would something like the faint image on a water bottle qualify
  • Can the same person be chosen twice?
  • How do typos affect this? Is it reading my intent? Similar issue in regards to two individuals with the same name.
  • Is there a maximum range? Belto Shelk is in this city right now, I think, as was the robber obviously.
  • Any people off limits just generally?
  • Adverse side effects on self? Set phone to record while in a switched state. Make sure I’m not being switched into.
  • OH, I should check the time while shifted at some point, you can never take anything for granted with magic.
  • Limit for how long I have this power? Technically Ehn said I could use it to deal with that robber, this could be the end of it (lame)
  • Limits of humanity, can I become a fucking animal
  • How aware of what happened are the targets?
  • What happens if I write Dana Craig? I don’t want to risk this one quite yet. It gives me ominous vibes.
9:31 PM
Applications
  • Revenge or just straight up nullification against those who wronged me; today a perfect example
  • I can make Belto Shelk tweet literally anything
  • figure out what the hell ariel or michelle do in their spare time
  • general clout gains, force others to follow me, they will just assume they forgot doing it later
  • miscellaneous trickery; get out of paying rent
  • If I play my cards right I could easily be set for life.
  • Wire money into Dana’s bank account as some rich guy or something while explaining that I’m rich and insane and these things happen. no this idea is stupid do a better one
  • Gain clout by doing some big anonymous nonsense. Make myself known as an omnipotent mind controller for my ideals? I don’t have any ideals
  • Make other people say good things about Dana Craig so if someone’s overlooking me they’ll second guess their instincts
General/Long-Term
  • Ehn. What is Ehn? Alien? Robot? Secret government project? The real God has an odd sense of taste? Where do their motives lie? Wording of the deal; am I obligated to carry out the favor? Or else what?
  • Other anomalous behavior. Safe to assume Marco was unrelated or unaware (probably?) but Angela left in an awful hurry. Secretly controls Ehn?
  • How did Ehn know Marcos name?
  • Am I going to hell now
  • Am I the only person Ehn contacted? If not, can others also perform what I can, or is it person-specific?
9:32 PM
I stumble out of the store. Nobody’s gonna show up anyways, and my cover story will likely rely on being in a delirious or irrational state of mind from the stress.
9:32 PM
I’m going home.
9:32 PM
Not before checking the dumpster. Almost forgot.
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Something was visibly put it in earlier, but it's gone now.
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I turn around in fear of an imminent ambush.
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This perfectly timed response meets her face to face with Marco again. He's got a gun and a bag again. "What... The fuck was that?"
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ā€œHad a weird dream about this dumpster. You change your mind about paying for that cola? My shifts over now, sorry.ā€ I am on such a plot high that I neglect the fact that nothing about what I’ve done relates to being bulletproof.
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"What the fuck did you do?" He aims the gun at Dana.
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ā€œā€¦ā€¦I don’t know. Even if I tried to give an honest explanation of my experiences, there’s no fucking way you’d believe me. I can do something today that I couldn’t before. You were the first person to come to mind to try something. What ensued was a natural result of trying to keep my job and my life.ā€ Her eyes narrow as she recovers a bit from the shock. ā€œā€¦But I don’t need to worry about you anymore. Actually, I should thank you. I’ll do you any one favor if it lets us bury the hatchet, Marco Gould. I’d like to keep this body with its blood still pumping.ā€
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He tries to shoot.
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I try to not be killed (i guess this is possible since you didn’t just make the next message He Does Shoot And You Die Instantly)
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((Roll))
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((14))
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Dana is struck in the side, and the momentum causes her to fall back against the dumpster.
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Like. With a bullet
9:55 PM
ā€œAAAAAAAAAAUGGHHHHghhhGHHHHHā€
9:56 PM
I scramble to hide in the dumpster and write Marco’s name again like my life depends on it (it does)
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((Roll))
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((11))
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Another bullet grazes her.
10:01 PM
Dana enters the body of Marco.
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I speak as Marco. I don’t know if the pain of being shot would still be felt right now, but the mental impact is certainly still shaking me. ā€œI don’t… huff know what degree of awareness you have of this. Might be something to try if I find anyone actually willing to cooperate. But I hope you can hear me, and recognize that you had every opportunity to get out of your fate of being left in the trash. And if it’s any solace… well, this might hurt me as much as it hurts you.ā€ I decide to use Marco’s body to test what the barrel of a gun tastes like, and then how pulling the trigger changes the flavor.
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Dana experiences no pain, and returns to her body after the shot has been fired.
10:06 PM
Sirens ring in the distance.
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With the adrenaline having presumably worn off, I test out how many of my limbs I am capable of moving.
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Dana's limbs are still functional.
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I hop out of the dumpster. Are the police(?) here already.
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The sirens are approaching, but they're not here yet.
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ā€œFuck, fuck, fuckā€¦ā€ Okay, okay, okay. I’m still fine. Nobody can know what I can do. Do I stay and play the victim? No, but he’s dead! Should I claim I wrested the gun from him in self defense? That could… no, I have too much attention on me as is. I need to run. Dana checks how visible her wounds are as she runs towards her home. The only link would be the security footage that might exist. And so what?! Cowardly clerk who doesn’t resist a robbery at all randomly goes out and kills the man with his own gun? Yeah, right! He was a lowlife scum and he died that way. Open and shut case. Not my problem.
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Dana makes it back home.
10:16 PM
Her wounds are very visible however,
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Dana properly does an amateur wound check. She’s no doctor, but like. Is there a bullet lodged in her body. Is she still losing blood. If she goes to sleep now will she wake up tomorrow. What can I gather
10:18 PM
takes off clothing that is in the way if possible
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There is a bullet currently in her body. She is still losing blood. Roll a d20 for the rest.
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well lmao that’s enough info but just in case
10:20 PM
((19))
10:21 PM
((Medical EXPERT))
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She is probably going to die if she does not cover up the wound.
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ā€œFucking. God.ā€ I wrap up the wound with just. All of my bedsheets every single one. You’re supposed to put pressure on the wound, right? Or does that make it worse for bullets? I wanted to avoid this since insurance and money are like, things, and I don’t get that stuff. But not dying is important. I call 911.
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"Hello, this is 911, what is your emergency?"
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I figure out my story. I can tell most of the truth. There’s only like, two things max I did wrong, and one of them no one would buy even if I did admit to it.
10:25 PM
ā€œHey, I have a problem, with, a bullet, and, it being, in my body, and, my blood, is, it’s… wooeew it’s coming out, I’m at [address] and I’m named dana craig hā€
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"Alright Dana, we're on our way."
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ā€œThank you plead be fass tā€ I hang up.
10:29 PM
I make sure my door is unlocked and just fucking open it while I’m at it.
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Ariel is on the other side of the door.
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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"Are you okay?"
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ā€œOh hiiiii uh. Arianaā€
10:33 PM
ā€œNo Im not!!ā€
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"What happened?"
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Dana laughs hysterically.
10:33 PM
ā€œYknow tits… a work thingā€
10:34 PM
ā€œJust because we serve you doesn’t mean we like you as they say. Have you seen Clerks? Goohhhyood movie.ā€ Dana coughs.
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"You're literally bleeding, come into my room, I'll make some tea."
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ā€œCustomers. The worst. Always.ā€
10:35 PM
ā€œNo it’s fine! Nine eleven.ā€ I do peek slightly into her room.
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"Are you absolutely sure? I'll check on you later so be ready, uh.... what's your name actually, I don't think I ever asked?"
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ā€œI’m Dana Craig. You can remember it because.ā€ She doesn’t finish that thought.
10:37 PM
She wanders to make sure the area outside the building is in her field of view.
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"Got it, well, I'll come check on you in a little bit, rest up."
10:39 PM
Ariel proceeds into her room.
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Sirens grow louder.
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ā€œTthats me.ā€ I definitively leave the vicinity of Ariel’s domicile (( https://discord.com/channels/959192904184778753/979771235938492527/980299556753379509 )) (edited)
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana Craig.
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Ambulances arrive to find her bleeding out.
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ā€œHi guys! I’m Dana Craig, probably hard to tell IM the one your looking for. That’s a joke fellasā€ I see if there is a paramedic I can say parting words to before losing consciousness.
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((End of the chapter yeah))
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I muster up a little bit of lucidity. ā€œThere’s this girl. If I don’t. Make it out of this alive. Could yooou tell her.ā€ She pauses. ā€œThat I quit my job?? Hahaā€ ā€œYeah.ā€ She faints of blood loss.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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2: Advent Guards
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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As Dana wakes up, she doesn't kick the covers off the bed with any strength, lacking such energy. Also, there might not be covers where she wakes up, and it might not be a bed. As is customary, I switch back to using first person.
2:02 PM
The first thing I do is check where I am; the second check if I still have my phone.
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Dana is in a hospital bed(this is evident from the fact the room is a hospital room). She’s in a hospital gown and does not have any of her possessions as a result.
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Tch. How the hell am I going to pay for this? Better debt than death, I guess. What... do I do? I look around to see if there's either a person nearby or my stuff. Also I feel how much bleeding from bullet I currently am.
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The wound seems to be contained for now, but the concept of moving your lower body hurts like hell.
2:07 PM
There’s no one around. (edited)
2:08 PM
Anything externally unusual about my body, like a cast or IV drip or whatever? Or was I just lying down.
2:11 PM
Regardless...
2:12 PM
I... really don't want to move. Obviously that's not a permanent resolution, can't be, but it'd be a waste to go out when there's a chance they'll just tell me I'm supposed to go back here. Maybe I'll get a wheelchair or something.
2:13 PM
There's no reason to just sit here contemplating how much pain I'm in. I can't very well take notes, but I'll organize my thoughts on what happened to pass the time.
2:14 PM
First, on the way this power worked; he absolutely knew that it was used. Why? What was his perspective of events like? It's a pain that he went and got himself killed. Does the president know that I specifically fucked with him? I hope Mark or whatever just assumed it was the last person he screwed over.
2:16 PM
If everyone I use this on instantly knows I did it, that's a huge problem. It would have very limited use. But what would it be that they learn? If it's my name, I think I'm shit out of luck. There's probably other Dana Craigs out there, but there's only so many, and only one of relevance to the people I've used it on. (edited)
2:17 PM
Well, I guess I'm not specifically relevant to the president. Whatever.
2:18 PM
If it's my appearance, that's a little more forgiving. There's some public record of my existence and how I look, but there shouldn't be any good way to search for that. I'd have to stick to people who don't know me.
2:19 PM
If it's neither, and they somehow instinctually know who and where and what I am, then this ability is useless. I can really only do something with someone else's consent.
2:19 PM
Well, that's a creepy way to describe it. It's not like I'm tangibly violating anything. And I've only used it on assholes.
2:20 PM
It's 'me' that I'm controlling when I use this. Theirs becomes mine. With... my 'soul'.
2:20 PM
Soul...
2:21 PM
I wish there were no traces to me. I could be like a cooler version of the death note guy.
2:22 PM
That guy was a dumbass, anyway. He could've easily won in the first episode if he wasn't such an egomaniac. It's frustrating writing.
2:23 PM
...Here's another question. Does my body matter?
2:23 PM
The rule about reflections is, apparently, my only restriction. If I blinded myself, I could stay in someone forever. Or, to put it another way, if I was blinded, I'd be trapped there forever.
2:24 PM
In that situation, would the 'me' in someone else be able to use the notebook?
2:24 PM
If it extends like that, and if the state of my hollow body won't impact my consciousness, then I never have to die.
2:24 PM
Weird.
2:25 PM
Of course, I'd be living at the expense of others. But the idea that everyone deserves to live is a bit of a naive one.
2:26 PM
Still, that would be a tough balancing act. Taking over the body of someone who has performed a crime terrible enough to warrant the death sentence would probably lead to me being, well, killed.
2:26 PM
This is a silly train of thought anyway. I'm not going to gouge my eyes out anytime soon.
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Knock, knock
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Huh?
2:27 PM
"Hello?"
2:29 PM
At any rate... this is real. I'm awake and this pain is real. Pain I only experienced because someone else verified I did what I thought I did. Miracles and magic exist. And they're mine.
2:30 PM
...Not that I'm going to get a god complex or whatever. I only have this because of a "higher power", after all.
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The fat man from yesterday entered the room, and walked up the bed. "Good morning, Ms. Craig. Had a good night's sleep?"
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My eyes widen momentarily in recognition. ā€œMy standards weren’t that high, really. Has it been a day?ā€
2:40 PM
What’s up with Ms, anyway? Dudes don’t have to have it specified whether they’re virgins or boring in fancy contexts.
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"Now, I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me." He took out a cigarette.
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Oh boy. Here we go. ā€œYeah, I can. Anything specific, or just how I got here as a whole?ā€
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He begins smoking in a hospital. "Of course, of course. Just start by telling me your story."
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ā€œI’m Dana Craig. 22. Convenience store worker. Female. Yesterday a man held me at gunpoint to rob what was in the register. I went along with his demands to keep myself alive. …I wasn’t sure what to do. I mean, the police are supposed to stop crimes, and he was long gone by the time I came to my senses. I guess I wasn’t thinking straight. I stood idly for a while, and eventually decided to head home. Was pretty sure I’d be fired for this, so whatever. Then I ran into the same guy. I guess he was paranoid and thought I had followed him. I ran for a bit but he cornered me in an alley. Starting yelling nonsense, I think he was on something. I tried to placate him, but he shot me. And I, uh, hid in a dumpster. …I don’t know what happened with him after that. I ran home a few minutes later, and only realized how seriously I was hurt when I had a second to catch my breath there. Then I called an ambulance. That’s about it.ā€
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"I see, I see." He smiled sarcastically. "So that’s your cover story?"
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… ā€œā€¦I can’t guess what you mean, but if you’re insinuating something, I really have no obligation to justify why I got shot to some guy. You don’t look like a nurse, yknow.ā€
3:03 PM
Moral of the Story: NURSE… is a MAN! with a ā€˜CIG’
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"Oh, did you think I was a nurse?" He chuckled, and took out a police badge out of his pocket. 'Howard Scott' was the name attached.
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I sneer. ā€œLow income brat gets a hole blown in her stomach, gotta be her fault, eh? Some gang thing? Nice deduction, Holmes. You wanna search my home for crack? Go ahead. But Iā€¦ā€ I lift up my arms with the hospital gown to accentuate the point. ā€œHave nothing on me here.ā€ …I hope he doesn’t actually rummage through my home.
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Sean Niebel 6/18/2022 3:14 PM
((holy shit ooishi))
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"Oh, don’t worry. I’m not here to harass a nice hardworking citizen. So, let’s pretend you fit that bill and move along. Do you know the name of the man you killed? Sorry, were attacked by?" His smile almost seemed genuine but it didn’t match the way he spoke.
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ā€œHe’s dead?ā€ I look at him with a head tilt. …Nice try, idiot, but I’m not falling for a trap that easily. ā€œHe’s Marco Gould. Made a point to remember it when he shouted about being a big shot.ā€
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"So you knew he was a dangerous man to mess with, did you? And your friend, that Michelle girl… Did she know too?"
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ā€œWell, I figured he was dangerous when he—wait, Michelle?!ā€
3:20 PM
I calm down a little. ā€œMichelle left before that man pulled his little stunt. I don’t think she interacted with him.ā€
3:21 PM
…How could he already suspect me, though? I don’t think I have to worry about an actual court of law hitting me with anything, but that doesn’t mean I’m free from consequences. Did Shelk send him?
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"So, to your story, those 2 have no connection?"
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ā€œYes, to real life. Well, I guess it is just my story. I don’t know what Michelle does in her spare time. What, are they related?ā€
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"Well, see, I didn’t come here to ask about you getting shot. Or the guy you killed, really." He let out a puff of smoke directly into her face, and then finally spoke. "What do you know about the murder of Michelle?"
😩 1
šŸ˜” 1
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I cough. ā€œHuh. …As of now, I know that if I take you as a reliable source of information, she’s apparently dead.ā€ :/ ā€œI last saw Michelle at [time I last saw Michelle]. She left after buying a bunch of cup ramen since it was the end of her shift, and I went to tell my, uh, boss that she was leaving. I don’t think there was anything weird about her during the day. Conversed with me same as always. If it matters, I don’t think I actually watched her exit the building.ā€ I look less distressed than I maybe should, but certainly more than I did finding out about the death of Margo.
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"So you’re both shot on the same night, and that’s just coincidence?"
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ā€œNo idea. Don’t guns have fingerprints or whatever? Was it the same gun for both of us?ā€
3:49 PM
ā€œIf you’re still insinuating I did something, I’ll mention that I’ve never owned or held a gun in my life.ā€ I shake my head. ā€œThat’s besides the point. What the hell happened?ā€
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"I told you, I’m on your side here. I don’t intend to press any charges on you if you just cooperate."
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ā€œI don’t think I’ve done anything you can press charges on. But yes, if you need me to solve this mystery, I’m willing to help.ā€
3:54 PM
Michelle’s a loser, and I wouldn’t call her a friend, but this… well, I’m pretty firmly against murder. And it could’ve been me.
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"Just give me the scoop on her and Marco Gould, and I’ll be out of your uncombed hair at once."
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I brush my hair out of my face and glare at him. ā€œI’m really not hiding anything. Marco Gould’s some guy. A career criminal, maybe. Michelle was as straight laced as can be, though I guess her friends can be a little weird. I never even saw them in the store at the same time. …Angela’s the one who left right before I got held at gunpoint, if you forced me to be all conspiratorial. But I don’t know about any relation the two have.ā€
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"Come on, what did you 2 do to piss off the mob? I told you, I’m not after whatever petty offense you 2 pulled."
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ā€œThe mob?ā€ I really wish he’d go back to grilling me on the thing I feel comfortable lying about. ā€œI don’t know! He just hated me for overcharging him on soda, and I have no idea why someone would go after Michelle, unless they were a sicko trying to dispose of everyone I know before finishing off with me.ā€ I groan. My lower body still feels like shit. ā€œWhat penance do you want, what sin?! I’ve smoked weed, I cheated on my chemistry midterm, I don’t go to church every sunday, I’ve used foul language! Why would the mob rob a fucking convenience store?!ā€
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"That’s what we’re wondering, Ms. Craig. So if you’d just stop admitting your alibi sucks out loud and be useful, I’ll be on my way."
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ā€œAre there no cameras in the store? Fuck, he still had the money he stole when he threatened me. And that register’s empty. Do the math! Or do you acknowledge I got stuck up, but think that it’s because of me, and some moron decided to take revenge on me by threatening but not killing me to inconvenience a store I have no deep allegiance to?ā€
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"Look, you don’t have to complicate this. I can make it worth your while if you make this worth mine."
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I look him in the eyes and smile. ā€œHe went after me because of plain old bigotry; perhaps the same for Michelle. It’s because I’m a witch. When he cornered me in the dumpster, I killed him with magic, and teleported the body to wherever you found it. Any further questions, officer?ā€
4:20 PM
This is just like
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He took another puff of his cigarette and rolled his eyes. "I’m not asking for much. Just make up your own connection if you need to."
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ā€œHe’s my real dad. He left when I was just a baby, but later killed my mother in a rage learning she hooked up with another man. Be it serendipity or his paranoia driving him to tie up loose ends, fate brought me the perfect chance yesterday for my perfect revenge. But not before he tragically took out my secret gay lover. Does that work? Or do you have reason to doubt this is the truth about me? Oh, wait!ā€ I exaggeratedly slap myself on the forehead. ā€œHow could I forget! You don’t have enough information about Dana Craig to suspect her of anything, so you’re misdirecting the proper burden of proof to try to get a forced confession or detail you can misinterpret as self incrimination, because you’re paid enough to be desperate for ā€˜results’, but not enough to do your job properly! Is your superior gonna be proud of you, Howie? Think he’ll let you into his pants for this?ā€ I try to get onto my feet to establish how mad I am but then I remember and scream in anguish.
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"Look, I’m not your enemy. Hell, I think your enemy might be yourself. Put simply, I don’t give a shit about arresting you. I’m going for the big fish, and I just need the initial fishing bait out of you."
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I’m tearing up a little bit from pain. ā€œMarco Gould’s a celebrity within the community of talking cats, as any witch would know, and Michelle shot first at him because she was jealous of that. Marco and Michelle are partners that go by the single name ā€˜MM’, running a secret project revolving around the continent Antarctica. Are these not mundane enough? Would you accept that they engage in everyday criminal activity, that they have the relationship of those two guys from Breaking Bad? I can be that weird libertarian they introduce like 40 hours in. What do you want?ā€
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He sighed, and got up. "Well, have fun with your medical bills. I hear you’re not exactly a high-earner."
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ā€œFine! Bye, bitch!ā€ ā€œā€¦Ehn.ā€ I mutter the last bit.
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A nurse entered. "Hey, what are you doing in here!? This patient isn’t cleared for visitors."
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…I should’ve just kept my fat mouth shut. Obviously he wouldn’t have gone through any proper procedure to interview someone just regaining consciousness.
4:55 PM
I doubt he’ll take anything I said seriously. Even the parts where I sort of told the truth. But I can’t be careless if I plan to do more going forward.
4:56 PM
…Maybe it’ll be easier when I’m talking as someone else. Playing a role. Just like my online brand. I again look around for my shit.
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"Don’t worry, I’m done here." He pretended to smile all nice, and left.
5:06 PM
The nurse was carrying a shitty bouquet.
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ā€œHi.ā€
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The nurse gave Dana the bouquet and a letter, before leaving.
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I read, which I am capable of.
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"It absolutely devastated me to hear of this horrible shooting. Gang violence has gone on for far too long in this city, and I can only hope it comes to an end soon. Though I am useless to stop this violence at the source, I have donated 1000 dollars to this hospital in hopes that future victims like you may have an easier time recovering. Have an absolutely burger-tastic year! Ouroboros Stanley"
5:24 PM
5:27 PM
Who the fuck is Ouroboros Stanley. Who the fuck is Ouroboros Stanley? That’s the snake eating it’s own tail, right? Obviously an alias or stage name or something. Shit, is this gonna be a thing? Like, will there be news coverage about me? I hope not. Nothing that happens around here matters to anyone.
5:29 PM
I don’t get it. Is he a politician? What’s with the fucking burger thing? He gave me a bouquet(?), so I don’t know why he’d say that. A fast food executive? I guess I wouldn’t know the name of one of those offhand.
5:30 PM
Should’ve asked that nurse for my stuff, dammit.
5:32 PM
That would be a secondary source of validation, though. ā€œGang violenceā€. Marco wasn’t some thug or a formerly law abiding guy who had one bad day recently. There’s a larger group at play here.
5:32 PM
I suppose I can’t hope for honor among thieves here. Marco didn’t take that idea well.
5:33 PM
So this is a group of ā€˜enemies’.
5:34 PM
I should learn what I can about this group. Criminal organizations don’t exactly have a public webpage, but there has to be information available outside the police if Stanley knew.
5:34 PM
Unless Stanley’s a cop too. Can’t rule that out.
5:36 PM
I’m still confident that I can’t be touched on Marco’s death. My fingerprints sure as hell aren’t on that gun. And I feel like that pig is probably telling the truth about not caring to push me further on the issue. But if you’re a group that acts outside the law entirely, and you look at the circumstances of his death, I’m one of the most obvious suspects. And a mafioso doesn’t presume innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
5:38 PM
Shit, what if that’s what happened to Michelle?! They’re going after everyone they think is a possible culprit since all they knew about Marco’s last actions is that he went to a specific convenience store?
5:39 PM
I should be able to save my own skin if I’m able to get my notebook back and think on my feet.
5:39 PM
But business acumen won’t block bullets for you, Angela.
5:40 PM
No one else is going to die. No one I don’t have a say in, at least. I… I can’t just stay here!
5:41 PM
I may not have cared for The Godfather, but I sure as hell remember that they weren’t above going after that kid’s life when he was bedridden in hospice.
5:41 PM
I try to stand.
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((Roll 1d20))
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((12))
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Dana is in too much pain.
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ā€œOw .ā€
5:45 PM
Okay. You’re in a hospital so shitty that it needs to be funded by patreon and even with that lets in any old intruder. And you killed a member of the mob. The kind of thing they blur out your appearance as witness protection for. And you can’t move. Okay. Okay. Okay. That’s fine.
5:48 PM
Calm down. What did the Death Note guy do, Dana? When there was another guy with the Death Note Notebook that wasn’t on his side. Enemy of my enemy. As long as I have two mutually antagonistic foes, I can become… become invulnerable without even doing anything. (edited)
5:49 PM
The cops won’t make a move on me when there’s a bigger threat around. The mob won’t make a move on me when I’ve obviously caught police attention. This is a good thing, actually. It’s fine.
5:51 PM
Wait, shit, are the police surveillance-ing me?! That would suck ass. I guess not using my abilities would be a step above dying…
5:51 PM
(( I’m sorry for making a character who says holy crap like in media ))
5:51 PM
(( Ready Player Craig ))
5:55 PM
The police… that side’s under my control. As it stands, they won’t do anything. I hold the key to their antagonism in my hand, actually. It’s when I actively make my presence known, souljack Belto to have him tweet that I, legendary hacker namepending, have taken control. Or something. But the mob isn’t predictable. Who was Marco to them? On one hand, someone who would rob a convenience store has to be so fucking low on the pecking order that avenging him would be meaningless. On the other hand, harmless normie Michelle DID die, and I still have no idea why. (edited)
5:56 PM
Was there more to this crime than meets the eye? He was at the store for a bit before sticking it up. Did he accomplish his true goal then, and only steal the money as some absurd coverup? (edited)
5:57 PM
And he acted right after Angela left. Or soon enough after. Is it because he felt confident with the manager gone and only one person that might resist him? Or is it the other way around; Angela left to have an alibi, collaborating with Marco somehow. I was joking when I talked about getting conspiratorial, but…
5:58 PM
Why did he try to buy soda?
5:59 PM
If he was just going to steal the money in the register, that would be a total waste of time. You can buy all the damn soda you want after the heist, fatty.
6:00 PM
So was that not his original plan? Did my justified trickery infuriate him enough to make him abruptly decide to snap?
6:00 PM
No, he was obviously suspicious from the start. He was just… also thirsty?
6:00 PM
I can’t get over the fucking soda thing.
6:00 PM
Where did the soda go?
6:01 PM
Did he take it along with the money?
6:01 PM
I can’t really recall.
6:01 PM
…How about this chronology.
6:02 PM
1. Michelle leaves the store
6:02 PM
2. Marco enters the store
6:02 PM
3. Angela leaves the store
6:02 PM
4. Marco holds me at gunpoint
6:02 PM
5. Ehn
6:03 PM
I’m going to ignore 5, since thinking is useless if there are mechanics involved that not even deus ex felis fully knows.
6:04 PM
And between 1 and 2, I can’t gather anything beyond the absurd conclusion that since I’ve never seen the two in the same place at the same time, they must be the same guy.
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Radio static "Kingsley, are you there? Over."
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But what if it’s like this? M- Huh?
6:04 PM
I look around.
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"Kingsley here. What’s up? Over." It’s coming from under the bed.
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I am going to look. Under the bed
6:11 PM
Did Howard fucking drop something?
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There’s a police radio.
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I am going to eavesdrop more.
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"We need to adjust your shift over the next few days. Mr. Maoziwam's moving a lot of cash, and we need someone to supervise it. Private firms are off-limits. Don’t let anything leak about this. Over."
6:18 PM
"Are we really getting payed to babysit some rich guy’s stuff? The gang stuff's getting heated, they’re gonna need me in Scott's team. Over."
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"That’s a negative. We’re not wasting people's lives on a suicide run. Over."
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Shuichi Maoziwam?
6:21 PM
Haha… ā€œdon’t let anything leak about thisā€.
6:21 PM
Nice going, morons.
6:21 PM
Not that I can really use this information.
6:23 PM
ā€Kingsleyā€ isn’t a full name. If it’s even part of his real name at all.
6:23 PM
Maybe I could do something by manipulating Shuichi, but that would be the same regardless of this information.
6:24 PM
…Someone could burst in at any moment. I don’t want to get in any more trouble right now. Is there an off button on this thing…?
6:26 PM
Wait, forget about Maoziwam. Gang stuff? This could be important to my survival. If someone bursts in I’ll just say I just found this. It’s, again, barely a lie.
6:27 PM
I guess Scott is someone working on the case of this ā€˜gang’.
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((Kid named Howard Scott))
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(( oh yeah lmao ))
6:28 PM
He basically told me that much himself, though.
6:28 PM
Suicide run? Is this a group so powerful the police can’t touch them at all? That would be concerning.
6:30 PM
Or maybe they’re not that powerful. And Howard Scott is just bad at forming plans to combat them.
6:31 PM
God knows my first hand experience with his work doesn’t make a great impression.
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"I’m not doing this, sir. Over."
6:39 PM
A non-radio voice spoke, the voice of Ehn. "Heya!"
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ā€œAh! Hello.ā€ I put the radio aside for now.
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"How’d you end up like this?"
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ā€œHe knew what I had done, and shot me. How did you know his name, anyway?ā€
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"Sorry, but i don’t give out those kinds of favours for free." She jumped on the bed. "But I think I could help you out of here."
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ā€œI can’t stand.ā€ I summarize the situation accurately and seriously.
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"Exactly! Which is why you need me."
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I briefly entertain speculating on what the fuck this means before just asking. ā€œWhat?ā€
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"I can do anything. For a price."
7:19 PM
The cat's mouth warped into a smile. (edited)
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ā€œI’m not gonna sell my soul to leave the hospital slightly earlier. I’ve been way more bored than this.ā€
7:27 PM
ā€œI’ll hear what you’re proposing, I guess.ā€
7:32 PM
Ehn… just what are you planning? Did you know what would happen to me? At the very least, its goals don’t conflict with mine or involve my death in the immediate term. Which puts it above the gang. Maybe on par with the police.
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"I can’t actually make another deal with you now, so just consider me the middlecat here."
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ā€œā€¦Odd.ā€
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"It’s one ability deal per person! But I could give someone a deal and make them help you with their ability. Pretty simple, right?"
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ā€œIn this context, what do you mean by ā€˜make them’? Is this wishful thinking, you mentioning my relevance to them, or would aiding me be a stipulation within the agreement they make, the same vaguely helping you is for me?ā€ (edited)
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"No, I’m not using their favour to save you. I want to see you out of here, but you’re disposable entertainment, really. I’ll relay any offer you make to them, so you better make it a good one."
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I chuckle. ā€œYou wound me, Ehn. After all we’ve been through together! But an offer… hm…and this is a person of my choice?ā€
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If it is, I might be worse off than if Ehn was just asking me to write a pitch for her for some guy she already picked out. I mean, who would I even select?
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"Ariel May."
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I think back to that time I imagined having a different sort of power, that is being the president, which is technically equivalent to the power I have now. Michelle probably would be my first choice, really. We’re amicable enough in relations, and I bet that there’s a real freak suppressed by her lack of control over her life. Yet…
7:49 PM
ā€œOh.ā€
7:49 PM
Her, huh?
7:50 PM
ā€œHer, huh?ā€
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"Honestly, she’s not really supposed to be part of this, but she’s interested enough that I’ll let her in this fun plot."
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…I was going to consider her, actually. Out of anyone not already firmly my enemy, she’s the one who already knows the most incriminating information about me. ā€œShe’s… interested?ā€
7:54 PM
Regardless of the person… I do need a partner. By myself, I’d probably be too hesitant to ever do anything. But since I know from Marco there’s no direct adverse effects, someone else would be able to act as a lab rat for me to confirm my limits with. I was thinking of trying to find someone even before this. Giving her an ability is just a bonus. …One that might become a liability, but I’ll try to get the openness with secrets I’ll inherently need to have paid back in full. ā€œI’m certainly not against it.ā€
7:55 PM
ā€œI’m not going to bother asking what someone who is ā€˜supposed’ to be part of ā€˜this’ means. I’m assuming I’m a trivial character in some master plan. An extra piece that may or may not even need to move. I doubt I’m the first one you approached with this deal.ā€
7:56 PM
ā€œI just need to know what you specifically have seen in Ariel. How was she ā€˜interested’?ā€ (edited)
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"Don’t worry, you’re certainly my favourite piece right now. You could even say you’re the only one!"
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I smirk. ā€œWell, regardless.ā€
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"So, what am I to offer her?"
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ā€œI don’t really know her. If you said she’s interested, would your offer alone not be enough?ā€ Dana sighs. ā€œTell her what I can do. That I can control the bodies of others. And that I’ll do it for her benefit if she helps me understand some things.ā€ The tried and true Marco strategy. ā€œIf she says no, I can probably pretty easily brush off whatever she says about Dana Craig as her being mentally unwell.ā€ (edited)
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"Okay, this manipulation thing is getting boring. Guess I’m a bit of a terrible mastermind, huh? Maybe I should stick to the honest criminal life, y’know?" Ehn approached the radio. "I heard what it said too."
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I spend approximately thirty seconds trying to determine if she just japed me and dramatically revealed that fact before determining that probably didn’t happen. The radio isn’t enabled on my end, right? ā€œWhat do you mean?ā€ (edited)
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"Don’t you think heist stories are awesome? If this kind of thing falls into your lap, you don’t just throw it away!"
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ā€œWell, it certainly has its appeal. My earlier get richer quick scheme fell flat and I probably don’t have a job anymore. But I don’t think there’s anything I can do with the information and means I have.ā€
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"Hmm… Well, why don’t you use the radio to ask for more?"
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ā€œWith my patented Howard Scott impression?ā€
8:26 PM
ā€œOh. Wait.ā€
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"Say you’re Jessica James. They’ll believe any question you ask."
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ā€œIsn’t that the name of a Wild West outlaw?ā€ I grab the radio again and think to myself.
8:32 PM
…There’s no reason this will work. If I ask Ehn who Jessica James is, she’s obviously not going to answer. And using this radio at all is a bad idea. It’s already probably unwise that my fingerprints are on it, and if someone hears a female voice on the line, they’re gonna go oh what the hell. Can the source be traced in a police radio? If they can tell it’s Howard’s, I’m immediately fucked.
8:33 PM
The best option is to shove this back under the bed and hope Howard doesn’t look too closely when he inevitably comes back to look here. Yet…
8:37 PM
Why would Ehn lie about this? I don’t know her motives, but she provided me with this power for some unknown reason. If her reason was ā€œI want you to get arrestedā€, none of her behavior makes any sense. She needs me around for something, and my getting caught means the fact that she exists getting out. Her stated motive? Entertainment. If I get arrested here, this is the worst fucking story ever. So… I can trust this? The voices were pretty hard to make out minute details of…
8:39 PM
I know Howard Scott’s name, but even if I could struggle through the pain to locate my notebook, he’d have the exactly same likelihood as Marco to realize something’s up. Making people shoot themselves in the head really isn’t sustainable as a recurring thing.
8:41 PM
I sigh, and go dead silent, listening for the sound of anyone imminently approaching my room. And if I hear nothing, I press what I think is the correct button… ā€œThis is Jessica James. Does anyone copy? Over.ā€
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"Detective? What is it?"
8:41 PM
"Over."
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I steady my breathing. This might be a better place to have a heart attack than any other place I’ve been in, but it’s still suboptimal.
8:46 PM
I didn’t think about what comes next. Fuck. If there’s too long a gap, it’ll be suspicious!!
8:48 PM
Do I recognize this voice from earlier?
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It’s the responder from earlier.
8:49 PM
Not Kingsley.
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ā€œI have information that leads me to believe the Maoziwam exchange has been compromised. …Who am I speaking to? You’re not coming across very clearly on my end.ā€
8:53 PM
This is so stupid. This is so fucking stupid. If this is someone they wouldn’t think twice about hearing on the radio, obviously that person would hear me and know it’s not them saying this!
8:53 PM
Dana is losing her entire body weight in sweat.
8:54 PM
I note this fact.
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"This is Huffman. You don’t have to be so formal every time, James. What’s your info?"
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Fuck, I don’t even know enough to fake information! What does ā€˜moving a lot of cash’ mean? Is this physical transportation? ā€œI don’t know with certainty who plans to interfere or how, but we can’t be confident in the location. Somebody with knowledge of where the money will be is preparing a snare, with confidence it will be undetectable. Are there any alternatives that could be switched to at this stage, or will we have to go ahead as planned and hope we get lucky?ā€ What the fuck was that?!
9:02 PM
I check if this room has a window.
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"Maoziwam's confident in the facilities as long as we keep someone around. You’re free to have a look." Huffman listed an address.
9:03 PM
The room does indeed have a window.
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ā€œā€¦Thanks. I’m likely to do so. Over.ā€ Does the window open. Is it within reach.
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It is not within reach of Dana.
9:06 PM
"Alright, if that’s all. Over."
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Is Ehn still here
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Ehn is sitting on the bed.
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I stare at Ehn with the readd pose
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"So, are you satisfied?"
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ā€œI don’t understand why I did that.ā€
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"You were the one who needed more info."
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ā€œSure, but that way of getting it is idiotic. And I barely got anything. A location and another last name. Great. Maybe I can use my phone to figure out that cops full name and then use that notebook. Oh, wait! I’m still in this god damn hospital bed, and don’t have either of those, and my neighbor apparently hasn’t gained the ability to provide supertylenol. What a shame. Guess I won’t be entertaining you imminently.ā€
9:23 PM
I try to stand, again,
9:23 PM
Unless you won’t allow this which fair
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Dana can’t stand.
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"I told you, I’ll help you stand again! I just want you and your new accomplice to entertain me afterwards!"
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ā€œAnd yet, here I stand. Unstanding. I wouldn’t be in a rush, but I just sent the police another thoughtfully wrapped ā€˜arrest me’ greeting card.ā€
9:30 PM
ā€œYou don’t wrap cards. Forget it.ā€
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"Well, I guess I’ll go get her now." She got up. "Uh… Can you call someone? I can’t actually leave right now." (edited)
9:35 PM
ā€œPhoneless.ā€ What kind of nurse doesn’t even explain my condition or where the hell my belongings were confiscated to? Instead providing me with burger advertisement? Even at my most cynical, I’d assume they’d tell me how much I’m in the hole now.
9:35 PM
I could yell for someone? But I feel like these walls are probably too thick.
9:37 PM
(( What was your favorite part of Dana Craig’s story. Mine was the part where Dana Craig and the Omnipotent Cat get trapped in an escape room with an unlocked door and window and zero obstacles in the way ))
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"Well… That’s annoying."
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ā€œI suppose.ā€
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Ehn begins rolling on the floor like a non-talking cat.
10:18 PM
This is truly a great note to end the session on.
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Yup.
10:18 PM
((assuming im waiting for someone be it Sandra or Rei or whoever))
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((No you finished this session last))
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((Howard Scott))
10:31 PM
((I finally somehow got the vibe right))
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This isn't Ooishi
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Create a AG Dana Characters tier list. Check out our other Random tier list templates and the most recent user submitted Random tier lists.
12:08 PM
WHERE IS EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO SPOKE ON THE RADIO HUH
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((Doesn't the Drew Misham archetype REQUIRE being a father))
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((i dont care what the "drew misham archetype" is))
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I chuckle lightly at the abnormal cat, then lean back into the bed. Well, whatever. I’ll get out eventually.
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Ehn continued to roll around on the floor like a normal cat.
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I begin quietly humming the death note L theme. …No use. I’m all thought out for now. The new information that Ehn behaves like a normal cat isn’t of much help.
2:16 PM
My assumption would be, whether Ehn is a supernatural being or robot, it took this form to appeal to me. I do like cats.
2:17 PM
I suppose I could consider whether this is part of this ploy or just a genuine sentient being expressing boredom and being unable to sit still.
2:18 PM
That’s Clerks, though. Not plot.
2:18 PM
What am I even talking about?
2:18 PM
Thinking about. Whatever.
2:20 PM
Wonder what everyone’s doing right now.
2:22 PM
Ariel’s either having one of whatever her normal days are or gaining the ability to do some out there bullshit. Angela, uh… that’s part of the ā€˜mystery’, I don’t really know. Michelle… y-yeah. Grace probably isn’t taking it too well. Dad’s finally more mobile than me again, good for you.
2:23 PM
I definitely know more people than that, yeah? I just talked to uh, the landlord, yesterday. I really don’t give a shit what he’s doing.
2:24 PM
He’s pretty low on the level of ā€œpeople I’d suspect to be involved in a conspiracyā€. Nothing even happened at my home, really.
2:26 PM
I guess it’s unlikely Ehn just ā€œhappenedā€ to take interest in my neighbor, but that could easily just be that I talked to her earlier.
2:28 PM
…The old guy from work? Fucking Kris Pratt? Reaching the bottom of the barrel here.
2:29 PM
Belto Shelk is probably more important than anyone I know personally. Hope to god he doesn’t know what happened.
2:30 PM
I remember abruptly that I have the police radio. …Ah, fuck. That too. It’s amazing how sloppy I’ve already been before even doing anything.
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Ehn suddenly vanished.
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Huh. Huh.
2:31 PM
ā€œBye.ā€
2:32 PM
Alone again. Another classic convenience store worker moment.
2:37 PM
If only I could just use my abilities by myse-
2:37 PM
…Oh.
2:37 PM
Is it me at all? If someone else got ahold of that book…
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"Ms Craig! How are you?" A doctor entered the room.
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I smile. ā€œAh, hello! I’ve been better, but I can’t complain.ā€
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"How is the pain?"
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ā€œIt’s not too bad by default, but it becomes unbearable when I try to stand or put pressure on my lower half.ā€
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"I see. So you can still feel your legs?"
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ā€œI suppose so, yeah. A good thing in its own way.ā€
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"I see." She seemed to take a note of something.
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Doctors do that, yeah.
2:50 PM
I think she’s a doctor, at least. Don’t really know. Supposed to be sexist to just assume she’s a nurse but I could be over-correcting.
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ā€œUm, I’m not really familiar with this process. Do you know how soon I’ll be able to be… discharged?ā€
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"Well, we’ll have to a do rather intensive surgery. To be specific, there’s a possibility you may never walk again. Of course, we’ll do our best to make sure you’re fine."
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ā€œOh.ā€ I thought they already did whatever they needed.
3:15 PM
ā€œIs there anything else I need to know? Do they need a form with my consent or whatever? Or something like… finance-wise?ā€
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"Yes, we do need to know your insurance provider."
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DAMN…
3:27 PM
((Does Dana Craig have insurance or are you leaving this huge decision in my hands (i feel like there’d be something albeit crappy (obama insurance))))
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((It’s your choice))
3:28 PM
((I’m not American idk how privatized insurance works))
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I mutter something about Obama that accurately describes my financial and health insurance situation.
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"I see. Well, thank you for now. I'll be back when specifics for the surgery are in order."
4:00 PM
((They did surgery on a Craig))
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She leaves.
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Yeah.
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Dana once again did not ask for her things.
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FUCK
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Is there a fucking clock in this room
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There is indeed a clock.
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I’m forcing the time to be concretely set.
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It’s amazing how good at not getting information I am.
5:59 PM
You’d think there’d be a little more formal procedure. For all they know I could have people who need to know what happened to me.
6:00 PM
It’s just a dozen hours or so. Whatever.
6:07 PM
I try to rest, I guess. Just slept for a long time recently but my internal clock’s fucked anyway. ((excuse for you to notify me when something does/can happen yeah))
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Ariel entered the room.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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ā€œTthats me.ā€ I definitively leave the vicinity of Ariel’s domicile (( https://discord.com/channels/959192904184778753/979771235938492527/980299556753379509 )) (edited)
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Dana Craig is in a hospital bed. Ariel is not.
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"Dana, are you alright?"
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ā€œEh? Well, no, I got shot. I don’t think it’s life threatening, though.ā€
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"Shot?! How? By who? Why?"
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ā€œWith a gun. Guy named Marco Gould.ā€ I pause for the last one. ā€œHe’s crazy, I guess.ā€
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Ariel walks closer and holds her hand "That... That doesn't seem good."
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I pull back, looking more fearful than disdainful. ā€œW-Well… He won’t be shooting me again, at least. Fucker’s dead. Apparently. Of course that means I get suspected for that. Or, one singular cop suspected me. No difference, really.ā€
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Ariel digs into her bag and grabs the paintbrush "Here, I was told by a certain cat that this would help."
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Huh. ā€œWould you believe that having a paintbrush on your person is more surprising than anything you just said?ā€
7:09 PM
ā€œIt mentioned contacting you. I wasn’t sure if that actually came to pass, though.ā€
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Ariel uses the paintbrush on dana's wounds "Yeah, a talking cat showed up at work today. Called herself 'Ehn'. Said you had an offer for me?"
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Dana is no longer in pain.
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Everything but what’s hardest to explain, then. ā€œSomething like that. To be honest, I don’t know you very well, Ariel. ā€œ Dana stares at her legs in shock. ā€œSo I can’t give some hyper-specific offer tailored to what sort of life you want to live. But I am willing to use my capabilities to your benefit at your request, in return for your cooperation with me on some matters. And in return for, uh, what you just did.ā€
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"Honestly, I'm not much to know. I've just been living day-to-day doing very little. But you, you seem interesting. I'm here for you."
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ā€œSee, I need your body.ā€ … ā€œUh, no, I don’t mean likeā€¦ā€ I wave my hands frantically in front of my face. ā€œLook, it would be easier if I could just show you.ā€ I see if I can get up onto my feet now.
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"Show me then. To be honest, I saw a talking cat today, I think I can believe anything."
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Dana can get up.
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I look from side to side, then put my hand to my chin. ā€œShit, I’m not supposed to be able to do this. The hell do I say to the staff here? ā€˜Sorry, but you fucked up, there’s actually not a bullet in me’? But I can’t just sit through a surgery for an injury that doesn’t existā€¦ā€ I sigh. ā€œI guess I’ll just hope nobody familiar with my condition turns up.ā€ I motion for Ariel to follow me as I head out of the room. ā€œYou ever seen Death Note, Ariel?ā€
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"Yeah, actually."
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The hallway is empty.
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I look around for a place where my belongings might be, or where someone who might know that might be. Also a vague paranoid side eye for if I’m being recorded. ā€œSee, the Death Note guy could kill people. And then also decide how they died, I think? And he could decide how they behaved before they died, kind of??? It was vague. I don’t remember. I’m like that if it didn’t kill people and also was first person.ā€
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"So, you can control others' bodies? Cool! I'm a little jealous, all I got was this lousy paintbrush."
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ā€œI… guess I could’ve just explained it like that, yes.ā€ Even more paranoid head turning. ā€œI’ve… basically never lied about my circumstances. I never killed anyone. The gunman who shot me ā€˜killed himself’, as the fingerprints on the weapon will unambiguously prove.ā€
7:48 PM
ā€œI don’t know if he was working alone, though. Which is why, just as a precaution, I want to solidify my understanding of my limits.ā€
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"Fair enough, I believe you. I don't know what you did to him but I'm sure he deserved it"
7:50 PM
Ariel puts her hand on dana's shoulder
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ā€œIt was me or him. If he could be reasoned with, I wouldn’t be here right now.ā€ I don’t react to being touched this time.
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"So, what can I do for you? I am here to help."
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ā€œThe reason — part of it, at least — that man was so agitated to kill me, was because he knew I’d done something to him earlier. I want to use this ability on you, get a first hand look at what happens to my body while I’m out, walk in circles for a minute or so, and then I’ll get out and you’ll tell me what you experienced during that time. After that, I dunno. Maybe test one or two other things. It depends on what I can find out about the groups that want to screw me over. And whatever you might need from me.ā€ I look back. ā€œWhat’s up with the paintbrush, anyway?ā€
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"It can repair things, apparently. I repaired some broken glass at work today and I guess it can repair you as well. I wonder if you can use it while inside me. I don't mind, it seems cool!"
8:06 PM
"Just, uh, don't do anything bad while in me, I guess."
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Dana Craig
I look around for a place where my belongings might be, or where someone who might know that might be. Also a vague paranoid side eye for if I’m being recorded. ā€œSee, the Death Note guy could kill people. And then also decide how they died, I think? And he could decide how they behaved before they died, kind of??? It was vague. I don’t remember. I’m like that if it didn’t kill people and also was first person.ā€
((Roll))
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((17))
8:09 PM
ā€œā€¦Yeah. I’m aware this is a significant amount of ā€˜trust’ to place in someone you only loosely know, which is why I’m trying to be as transparent about my knowledge as possible.ā€
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"Its okay, I'm a trusting person šŸ˜„ "
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Dana Craig found her (edited)
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lfg
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I quickly ensure I’m fully caught up on the world of online, then take out the notebook if it is still there and I still have it.
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It is still there.
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"So it does actually work like a death note huh? That's... interesting."
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I flip to the first page, presumably containing three names written: ā€œBelto Shelkā€, ā€œMarco Gouldā€, and then ā€œMarco Gouldā€ again, turning it so Ariel can see. ā€œThat’s all it is from my end. Can we, uh, head back to my place? I’d rather not risk this out in public.ā€
8:22 PM
WAIT above Belto Shelk it has the word ā€œtestā€ very important
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"Yeah that sounds like a very good idea, Dana."
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I am going to attempt to understand where I am and then move towards my home.
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Dana is in a hospital.
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Ariel leads her out "C'mon, this way."
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I follow silently.
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They get to the apartment. I would never forget a channel existscereal1
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((lol))
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((Or pause ig because I was asked in #ooc-threads))
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((Why do they call it apartment when meant together live apart but close together population meant))
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Dana Craig 7/2/2022 4:10 PM
i didn’t see the ping but i assume Sandra isn’t around yet even
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((hey guys))
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:02 PM
yeah
8:03 PM
I take a deep breath. "Are you ready, then?"
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((@Ariel May just to make sure))
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"Ready. Just don't leave this place, okay?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:06 PM
I take out the notebook and write ā€œAriel Mayā€.
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((Are they IN one of their apartments or just. In front of the building(The latter is what I thought)))
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:09 PM
((Ok if it is the latter we enter one of them))
8:09 PM
((retcons))
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((Which one))
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:10 PM
((dana craig is going to break into ariel mays home))
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ariel invites Dana into her room and sits down on the couch.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana is now seeing through Ariel's eyes.
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:12 PM
I look at where Dana Craig was sitting.
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She's sitting normally, with a blank look in her eyes.
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:14 PM
I reach a hand out to her briefly, then pull back. ā€œElderberries.ā€ I say out loud. Afterwards, I pace around and examine the room for a bit.
8:16 PM
If this doesn’t lead to anything notable, I sigh, then try to find a bathroom or whatever yknow mirrors and such.
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:18 PM
powerful
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Dana comes face to face with a mirror. ((Back to the channel))
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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Sean Niebel 7/9/2022 8:22 PM
((I get up. then get knocked down again. I get up I get up I))
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Ariel wanders back into the main room and sits down on the couch again. "Well that was an interesting experience"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:24 PM
ā€œWhat was it like? Could you still see what ā€˜you’ were doing?ā€
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"Yeah, I was fully aware the whole time. I'm glad you didn't do anything untoward."
8:25 PM
"I was right to trust you."
8:26 PM
"Now, would you like a cup of tea or coffee?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:28 PM
ā€œIt would be pretty dumb of me to blow all that effort in reassuring you just to do something ridiculous. …Uh, I guess coffee, if you’re making it anyway.ā€ I breathe out a deep sigh. ā€œThat’s a relief, then. I was just paranoid. I guess he retraced his steps that he witnessed himself making and made an assumption when he saw me there.ā€
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Ariel starts making Dana some coffee and herself some tea
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:35 PM
ā€œDo you have a family, Ariel?ā€ What? ā€œLike, what are they, is there like a line of work the Mays are associated with…?ā€ What the fuck are you doing? Nobody says that, this isn’t a normal sentence.
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"Eh I do but I don't really keep in touch with them much. And there's not a line of work or anything."
8:37 PM
"What about you?" (edited)
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:42 PM
ā€œOh, y’know, blue collar guys something or other whatever.ā€ I answer the question thoroughly without dodging it. ā€œAnd you’reā€¦ā€ I look over Ariel. Like 21, give or take, I’d guess? Well, it’s not like there’s a high minimum age, that doesn’t really matter. ā€œWell, I guess I just think you don’t seem the type. So if you are an undercover cop, my commendations for being a very adept one.ā€
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Someone slowly knocks on the door a couple of times.
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Ariel goes to answer the door "Hi?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:46 PM
I tense up.
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There is a person in a white suit standing just outside the door. Their face is almost entirely obscured by bandages, with just the eyes being left visible. They are bleeding from several places. Standing next to them is Ehn.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-dana-unknown
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:49 PM
I clutch my book close to my chest and back away from the door.
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I look at the pair curiously. "Who are you?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:49 PM
ā€œYou don’t get to ask that!ā€
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"Hi? I'm Ariel, how can I help you?"
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"What? Why not?"
8:50 PM
I look back at Ehn. "Who are they?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:50 PM
I calm down a little and lower an eyebrow. ā€œHm.ā€
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"Ehn? If you're here then this must be a friend right?"
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"Yup! This is Jay! They have amnesia, or something." (edited)
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"...Apparently so."
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"Come on in, I'm just making tea, do you want some tea or coffee?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:52 PM
I stare at Ariel in wide open live Tucker reaction face. ā€œR— You—?ā€
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"Tea or... coffee? I'll, uh, have what you're best at making."
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"They're here so they don't die. Do you still have that brush?" Ehn jumped onto the couch. (edited)
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"Oh yeah that's a thing isn't it." Ariel gets the brush out from her bag and uses it on Jay's wounds
8:56 PM
Ariel continues making herself tea and dana coffee, while starting making a new cup of tea for Jay
8:57 PM
"Ehn, can I uh, do anything for you?"
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"Well, how's the heist plan going?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 8:57 PM
I stare at Ehn. ā€œAm I to assume this is… someone of yours…?ā€ I look back at the man. ā€œI’m beginning to see how you operate.ā€
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"I don't understand."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:00 PM
ā€œIt takes a little time to recruit someone for a heist, I’m not barging in no forethought no foreplay like some kind of sucker!ā€ I fully appreciate and remember that I’m in a room with multiple people. ā€œIf I was going to do it.ā€
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Ariel lets out a small giggle at Dana's antics (edited)
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"Oh, you don't have to worry about Jay."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:01 PM
ā€œIt’s not funny!ā€
9:02 PM
Deep breaths. I take a deep breath.
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Ariel maintains a smile as she goes and serves the drinks and then proceeds to sit back on the couch next to Dana
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I look at them nervously.
9:03 PM
"Is she okay?"
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She proceeds to pet Ehn
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:03 PM
ā€œShe’s fine.ā€
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Ariel's hand goes through Ehn's body, but she(la creatura) still seems to enjoy it.
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"I was referring to you." I am referring to Dana.
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"She's perfectly normal. This is just how she acts cute."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:07 PM
Fine. Fine! The death note guy had that goth bitch track him down and made it out of that okay. I down a substantial amount of coffee in one gulp. ā€œI’m great, actually. Impervious. Because I’m fully capable of already framing you both as accomplices.ā€
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"No need for the threats, we're all allies here!"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:08 PM
ā€œThat’s the idea.ā€
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"So, Jay, I assume since Ehn brought you that she's given you something or other right? Could you fill us in?"
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"I have no idea."
9:10 PM
I hold my gun up. "I won't let you frame me for anything."
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"Whoa, Whoa, no need for that gun, as ehn said, we're all allies. We're here to help."
9:11 PM
"Dana, don't be rude."
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"He's a bit jumpy. By the way, if you see weirdos in white suits, probably best to avoid those guys."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:12 PM
ā€œGo ahead, shoot! You afraid of a little larceny but think you can get away with murder, shit-for-brains?!ā€ Dana is shrinking into the corner.
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"DANA DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK TO OUR GUEST THAT WAY!"
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"W-what? I wasn't afraid of anything!"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:13 PM
ā€œHe’s going to kill me! U…Unheal him or something!ā€
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"Jay, just put the gun down..."
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"Jay, I'm so sorry about Dana. She wouldn't hurt a fly, I mean it."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:14 PM
ā€œYou’re so lucky you’re nameless.ā€
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"Dana..." Ariel glares at Dana.
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"Dana Craig made a man kill himself." Ehn shares this fun fact.
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"Ehn, not helping."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:15 PM
ā€œIn self defense!ā€ Wait, am I trying to intimidate or be the good guy?!
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"Sorry we got off on the wrong foot Jay, put the gun away, lets talk about things."
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"How do you make a man kill himself in self-defense!?" (edited)
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"Its complicated, just chill out and we'll explain, yeah?"
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I lower my gun somewhat but steady my grip. "..."
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"Oh, I should get going. I've got a few things to get done. Don't kill each other, or anything. Murder whoever else you want if it soothes you, I don't care." Ehn left.
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"Honestly I still don't know what the point of this perfect heist thing Ehn wants us to do even is."
9:21 PM
"Who are we stealing from?"
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"I never agreed to any heist."
9:22 PM
"Why are you stealing from anywhere?"
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"I honestly don't know myself."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:23 PM
ā€œAnterograde or retrograde?ā€ I ignore the current conversation flow and stare at Jay.
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"I don't know what those words mean."
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"what"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:24 PM
ā€œAre you unable to recall anything before a certain point, or are you unable to form new memories?ā€ Dana still says this with hostility, somehow.
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"...I don't remember anything from before I woke up. I don't have any problem remembering what I said a few minutes ago."
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"The classic, makes sense."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:27 PM
ā€œYou were grievously injured and taken to a hospital, where they did a less than stellar job. That makes sense. But you had to have had some method of identification on you. Is Jay your actual name?ā€
9:28 PM
ā€œThis is just confirming things. I’d only be able to harm you if you told me your surname as well, so you can avoid that.ā€
9:29 PM
Another concession for ā€œtrustā€.
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"I was taken to a hospital? What do you mean?"
9:29 PM
"...Do you know me from something else?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:30 PM
ā€œI’m making assumptions. Someone who would cover your face with bandages would have to be an incredibly strange person to not be practicing medicine.ā€
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"Three people mentioned bandages. I still don't know what that's talking about."
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"the things that are wrapped around your face"
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"That's skin."
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"on top of that."
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"Ehn knows if Jay is my actual name. I'd guess it is."
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"How'd you get that gun?"
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"It was from one of those 'weirdos in white suits'."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:35 PM
ā€œThe mafia?ā€
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"Are they?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:35 PM
ā€œI don’t know, it’s a guess. I think there’s a mafia.ā€
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It is not a secret to say that there is indeed at least 1 mafia in the city.
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:36 PM
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"I don't know who they are. They were apparently villains, and 'Kite' and 'Beetle' fought them."
9:37 PM
"A few of them tried to stop me, but we killed them."
9:38 PM
"Don't you have your own weapons?"
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"Who's 'we'?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:38 PM
ā€œHim, Kite, and Beetle, I assume.ā€
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"Kite and Beetle? Hmm." Ariel gets her phone out and starts searching for any signs of people that use those names.
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"There was a woman in a wheelchair who appeared, too. I don't have any idea who she was."
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There are no interesting results for a 'Kite' or 'Beetle'.
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"What'd she do?"
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"Wh... what? She's here now!"
9:43 PM
I point. "See?"
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"Where?"
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"There!"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:43 PM
ā€œKiteā€¦ā€ Well, whatever. ā€œI’m not going to doubt any of this because I don’t actually care. Sure. Your skin is bandages. And there’s an invisible girl in a wheelchair.ā€ Dana, who is me, completes her shriveling into the corner and sits there. ā€œDo either of you know a woman named Michelle?ā€
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??? is pointing at nothing.
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:44 PM
haruka
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"I don't think I've met a Michelle, no."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:45 PM
ā€œOkay. Worth checking. She’s dead. I may or may not be next.ā€
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"Dana, what have you gotten yourself involved in now?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:46 PM
ā€œI have no idea, but a policeman thinks she and I both angered the mob, and I certainly haven’t. Well, not until yesterday, maybe, but she died unrelated to that.ā€
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"How'd she die then?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:48 PM
I struggle to remember the words of fan favorite higurashi character. ā€œI don’t think I ever learned that. I’m not sure how I would. It doesn’t feel like an incident that would be major public news.ā€
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"How did either of you even get here? Why did you follow the dog?"
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"Ehn is a cat, but anyway, I live here."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:49 PM
ā€œEhn is very distinctly a cat.ā€ This is the last straw in tolerating things Jay says.
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"A... cat? What are you talking about?"
9:50 PM
"It looks just like a dog, doesn't it?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:50 PM
ā€œThis is the least of our concerns, it’s a fucking hologram, whatever.ā€
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"What's a hologram?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:51 PM
Is there a deez nuts joke here? … If there was, I’ve passed the time window. ā€œA projection.ā€
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"Means its not really there but it just looks like it."
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"It was standing there, wasn't it? How would that make sense?"
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:52 PM
ā€œActually, it did pick up the notebook independently. That can’t be it.ā€
9:52 PM
ā€œIt’s semi-intangible, at any rate.ā€
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"Yeah, it did some stuff at the store too."
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"...Why do you know Ehn, then?"
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"She just showed up at work! Said a brush on the shelf would be able to fix things and then told me to go find Dana here."
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Dana Craig 7/9/2022 9:58 PM
ā€œI was offered power in exchange for doing an unspecified favor in the future. The power hasn’t led to much other than being near lethally shot, but I’m working on offsetting that.ā€
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"I assume since you know Ehn she offered you something too?"
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I take a seat on the couch, since I've been standing until now.
10:00 PM
"Me? Ehn said I have a power, but I don't really get it."
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"What can it do?"
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"I don't know."
10:02 PM
"Make the woman do things? That's my best guess."
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ā€œWho?ā€
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"The... wheelchair woman?"
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I sigh. "Yes."
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I laugh.
10:03 PM
ā€œWell, you own a gun. That’s probably more potent.ā€
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"What am I supposed to be doing?"
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ā€œDid Ehn just bestow this ability without asking anything of you?ā€
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"Maybe? I didn't hear a request like that from him."
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"So. What now?"
10:09 PM
"Don't you two have things you do? This doesn't feel like it should be the only way you spend your free time." (edited)
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ā€œI work a dead end job at a convenience store. Or worked. Not clear on that part. This is the most important thing to happen in my life since… well, ever.ā€
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"Yeah, I work a pretty boring job too and don't really have a lot going on other than Dana over here" she gives Dana a smile
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((PC romance...))
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ā€œW-What?!ā€ I deflect. ā€œAren’t you in danger, Jay? If your situation is as I’ve heard, the wisest move would be to try getting out of Avengard.ā€
10:15 PM
"I don't really have any idea what my situation is. Some people might have something against me?"
10:15 PM
"I'm probably better staying in here."
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ā€œWell, I don’t have a perfect answer for that. It’s true that we haven’t been gunned down in here yet.ā€ I guess I won’t get into him endangering us by his presence. Glass houses…
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"Don't you, uh, read books? Wouldn't you be bored out of your lives?"
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"I mean, yeah sometimes."
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ā€œI am very bored for very long stretches, yes. But I do things recreationally, I’m not some kind of weirdo.ā€
10:21 PM
"Where's the kitchen?"
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"Over there" Ariel points to the kitchenette
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I get up, go to the kitchenette and look through for what food items there are. (edited)
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"Are you hungry?" Ariel gets up and fetches Jay a bag of chips from the cupboard
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"Oh. Yes."
10:23 PM
I take the bag of crisps and sit down.
šŸ‘Ž 1
šŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ 1
10:24 PM
Of course, I then begin slowly eating.
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"I'm sorry I don't have much here, I haven't been shopping in a while."
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((With your HANDS?!))
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((NO MEMORY OF PROPER EATING ETIQUETTE))
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((Its a bag of chips what else are you going to do))
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((Mvdy eats chips with a fork))
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((grabbing the diagram))
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((cursed))
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"Anyway uh, do you have any belongings on you that might give a clue as to who you were?"
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"I don't think so?"
10:30 PM
I look through my pockets for anything on me.
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((There is a small book listing in detail your name address and a general history of your entire life. ??? ROUTE END))
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"Oh, here." I pull out a set of keys.
10:33 PM
"Is this useful?"
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"Uh, maybe? I'm guessing you don't know what they're for." Ariel looks at them to see if there's any markings that might help identify them
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"Not at all."
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Are these like car keys or is this an old fashioned fucking šŸ—ļø
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((hey @Ehn/PC ))
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Closer to car keys.
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((any markings?))
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"Well, is that all?"
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"It seems like it."
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There are apparently numbers on the keys, sorry I forgot.
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((Biggest twist))
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((what kind of numbers? also how many keys are there?))
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One of the keys, which looks like an apartment key, has 2 digits on it.
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((Is it the same style as the apartment keys in this building?))
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It is not.
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((what are the other keys?))
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((This is just like ace attorney 2 case 2))
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((TRUE))
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((I’m going to die))
10:54 PM
((This doesn’t matter they’re just keys.))
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((Playing mad libs with info I wrote in the past but don’t remember and a bundle of keys))
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"Not really much I can draw from this other than that you probably have an apartment, but no idea where huh."
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"Could we search around?"
10:58 PM
"It seems like it would make sense if I didn't live too far from where I woke up."
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"Dana, what do you think?"
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ā€œā€¦Fine. It might relate to what I’m caught up in. Where did you wake up?ā€
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"It was in a truck in a street near an alleyway. I don't have a name, but I can retrace my steps back." (edited)
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I check the time on my phone. ā€œWell, I don’t exactly plan to go to work today. Lead the way.ā€
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It’s nearly midnight.
🤪 1
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"Lets go then." Ariel grabs a nice pink coat to wear
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I turn and make my way down to the entrance to the building.
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Ariel follows
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I look back and wait for Dana.
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I also follow yes
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I pull open the door and proceed to retrace my steps back to the truck area.
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They are now at the entrance of the building. It also midnight, which ends the final chapter 2, but the session isn’t over keep going.
11:17 PM
The so called truck area has been blocked off by cops.
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Uh oh.
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"Gah." (edited)
11:18 PM
"This is about where I was, at least. Do you know about any other apartments near here?"
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((Do I know anything about this place or nearby im assuming no))
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((You do not))
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"Well unless we feel like walking into every one of these buildings to try these keys, this might be a bit of a bust, but let me try something. Stay here you two."
11:22 PM
Ariel walks over to the nearest cop
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I stand there watching.
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"Hey officer, do you know what happened here? I was just on my way home so I was curious."
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"No comment at this time. Please clear away while we pursue our investigation."
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"Aww, are you sure? What's your name, sir?"
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"I have no reason to divulge that at this time."
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((She's got this))
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me when i see a confidential police investigation
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"Hey, are you sure? I can help, y'know? I have information about what happened here."
11:31 PM
"I'll contact you tomorrow to give a statement, can I get your contact number?"
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"Please speak to detective Howard Scott regarding any information you have on this case."
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What is she doing what is she doing what is she doing
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"Shall do! I'll head off back home then."
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"So dana, did you get that?"
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I reply if we’re not in earshot of anyone. ā€œI know Howard Scott. He’s the man who interrogated me. Is Jay’s case the same one…?ā€
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"Sounds like it might be. Think you can do something? He's probably asleep right now, if he is then he'll just think its a dream."
11:35 PM
"Although we should probably head home first."
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"But... we just got here."
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ā€œIf the investigation he’s involved in is ongoing, I don’t know whether he’d be up or not.ā€
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"Fair, lets wait a few hours, I doubt he'll pull an all-nighter, even if he's still up now."
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I look at Dana concernedly. "What were you interrogated for?"
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ā€œHe thought I had something to do with Michelle’s death. He also thought I had something to do with the death of the guy I was involved in the death of, but he didn’t seem to care very much about that part.ā€
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"What would that have to do with me? I don't even know who Michelle is."
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ā€œI’m under the impression you don’t know who anyone is, so that doesn’t mean much.ā€
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"That's what we need to find out, now come on, lets head home. Unless you want to wander around all the apartment buildings at midnight to try and find your one."
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"Fine. Is there no better way? Nobody we can ask about the key?"
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ā€œI don’t know a locksmith.ā€
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"Do you know someone who does?"
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"Unfortunately no. You can crash on my couch for the night if you want, it won't be very comfortable I imagine but its somewhere to stay."
11:50 PM
I look pretty hesitant. "...Okay." By myself, I then start walking the way back. (edited)
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"Dana, could I get your phone number quickly so I can contact you?"
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ā€œUm, okay.ā€ I provide her with this.
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I pause. "Don't you... live together?"
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"Nah, she lives next door, and we only really met yesterday."
11:57 PM
"or, well, two days ago I guess."
11:59 PM
I continue.
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Ariel goes as well.
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Yeah .
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Continue to. What?
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to our apartment building. (edited)
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Okay they make it back there yup.
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woo
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I get back up to the room we were in before. "What rooms do you have here?"
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"I literally only have this room, a bathroom and my bedroom, I'm sorry, its not much. Here's the bathroom if you need it" she points at it.
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"Will the three fit?" (edited)
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"No, but dana's right next door yeah? its fine."
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"That's right."
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I exhale. ā€œDo we want to do anything else tonight, or should we regroup in the morning?ā€
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"Try doing your thing with mr detective. He won't be able to trace it back to you, unless.... does he know or suspect? If he just moves on his own he'll think he's just tired, act that way."
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"What's 'her thing'?"
12:17 AM
"Does she... know where that detective lives? She was just interrogated by him, wasn't she?"
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ā€œIt’s a trick wherein I can possess someone’s body like a ghost, remotely. They seem to be aware when it’s happening, but maybe only if they’re still conscious at the time.ā€
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"You can possess people?"
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ā€œWell, maybe it’s overly dramatic to call it that. But I can see the world through their eyes and move their body.ā€
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"From anywhere?"
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ā€œHoward is already suspicious of me, and he’ll be even more suspicious when he realizes I vanished from a hospital. Not to mention if he thinks I stole his radio rather than him dropping it like a dumbass. …Is it suspicion great enough that he’d ever think I can basically do magic, though? I don’t know.ā€
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???
"From anywhere?"
ā€œI don’t think I’ve tried it on anyone outside of this city. I have a list of different limits and edge cases to test on my phone that I still haven’t gotten around to.ā€
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I think. "Can I watch you?"
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I chuckle. ā€œIt’s not very interesting from an outside perspective. I just kind of sit there. …But I guess I would feel more comfortable with something adjacent to allies around.ā€ I sit down on the couch and open up the book. ā€œā€¦Nothing venturedā€¦ā€ I write ā€˜Howard Scott’.
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Dana loses consciousness.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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3: Artificial Gravity
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana woke up in the driver's seat of a parked car, with several files in her lap.
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Okay, Jesus, it’s parked. I should keep this in mind. Switching into someone when they’re doing something potentially dangerous would be… well, I mean, I won’t die, but still. (edited)
8:04 PM
((Fuck formatting whatever))
8:06 PM
Unless I do? That would be such bullshit, if there was a different rule for death I didn’t deliberately cause. Fuck, there’s still so much I don’t know… fuck! Those idiots caught me up in their social trap and now I’ve done something completely [dana craig thinks a slur] I just… need to make the best of this. I can hop out at any moment I need to, assuming this is a normal car.
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It is indeed a normal car, however fair reminder that car doors have mirrors.
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Yeah, because of the mirrors. I can hop out of his body at any time. I clarify what I mean to myself.
8:09 PM
Let’s see… Judging the safest direction for not finding reflective glass, I choose down, noticing the files. I read the first one.
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They're very important and CLASSIFIED police documents about the mafia of Avengard. It is also remarkably empty, with several pages that do not exist being referenced on certain documents. What is there could perhaps help you find black market dealer, or it could help you get yourself killed by a mafia officer. A lot to pick from, truly.
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God, I didn’t realize being the police was so boring. I quickly flip through the rest for any big eye catching words or names.
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There is a file on Dana Craig, It is entirely empty. There is a file on Michelle. This file also reveals her last name, but this revelation is so shocking and mindblowing we don't quite have time to include it in the narration. Just trust me that the name I'm implying is truly stunning and majestic to behold. Also there's a file on Marco Gould.
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Hmph… I am nothing. I look closer at the Michelle and Marco files, if there’s anything besides basic info there.
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Michelle was tried and found innocent for grand larceny.
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Dhhfglotofotktigihitkjyihihhy?
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That's probably the most noticeable fact.
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Well, found innocent, I guess. Shouldn’t have trusted her alone with all that ramen.
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She also has a history of other smaller petty thefts, some of which she was found guilty for.
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She always seemed so straight-laced. Was she complacent with her job because she was already living a wild life elsewhere, even using her position for it? Hm.
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The police files note the opinion that Michelle's innocent personality "biased" the jury. This load of excuses fails to disguise from your eyes the fact a lot of these accusations really just don't have any real evidence.
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Well, it’s only about whether or not you get caught in this world.
8:24 PM
And she… was. At the end.
8:25 PM
I guess I’ve looked down and flipped through pages for long enough that mister policeman isn’t going to be able to ignore that his body clearly isn’t responding to him.
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((I don't remember, did Dana pick up anything that isn't in the DM list))
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Unless he was unconscious when I transferred. Then maybe he’d not experience anything, or wave this off as a dream.
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((Like, in her body))
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Ehn/PC
((I don't remember, did Dana pick up anything that isn't in the DM list))
((No I don’t think so the only thing I ever took was the notebook))
8:26 PM
((are they fucking rifling through my body lmao))
8:28 PM
It’s just hard to resist. I mean, it wasn’t as great as I’d hoped, but a series of classified files about persons of interest? That’s the ideal exposition to cheat your way into. I don’t think I can handle the stress of trying to interact with someone else as him right now. I try to take a mental note of what kind of place the car is parked at. (edited)
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Knock, knock "Detective Scott?" It's Kingsley from the radio.
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Also check the time if the car has a clock. ((i will not 1984 force you to give a number just if it like lines up with my knowledge of what time it just was where my body was))
8:30 PM
Oh.
8:30 PM
Oh.
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It's morning.
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Shit. Should I leave? No, he’d either fall back unconscious or wake up clueless. But if he knows then I’m screwed regardless. I… fuck! What if this doesn’t matter? I should be untraceable! I can’t lose! I’ll live through this no matter what!
8:32 PM
ā€œYes?ā€ Ugh. Dammit. I can just leave at any moment if things seem dodgy. I’m fine!
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Kingsley entered the car, and sat down in the passenger seat. "Well... Firstly. Are you alright, sir? Most people don't sleep in their cars."
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Why was that the case, anyways? It didn’t strike me as odd. I just assumed that… ā€œIt’s more convenient sometimes when I’m swamped with work. I don’t waste as much time on a commute, and I can enjoy a proper fuckin bed when I finally get the job done.ā€ Shit, did he swear? He totally didn’t. I’m blowing this.
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"Oh, did I wake you sir? You seem in a poor mood. I'm sorry. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the work you put in every day."
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ā€œI’m a little groggy, but it’s alright, I was getting up anyways. Should thank you.ā€ I’ve already said full sentences independently. There’s no use trying to get Howard to not note this as unusual. I’ll just need to prioritize fooling everyone else.
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"I just wanted to speak to you. Not about this case, or the whole..." He gestured to the files. "They're trying to kick me off working with you. It's for... It looks like some kind of guard duty? For Maoziwam. I-It's a real offense to the whole concept of police, like what Detective James would probably say in a situation like this...I'm just... I'm just curious what you'd recommend."
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I sigh. ā€œI’m not Detective James.ā€ What? No, who the fuck is Detective James? Maybe I am like him. Oh, that’s the person I pretended to be on the radio. That still doesn’t help. ā€œI don’t know if there can be an offense to the concept of police. Rich folk being able to treat public servants like their own tools… it’s annoying, but that’s how it’s always been, right? Money’s never separated from politics, and politics is never separated from us.ā€ Shit, way too anti-cop, pull back. ā€œThis is an extreme example, though. We just… do what we can to help people, and keep ourselves afloat in part so we can keep doin’ that. And a group is a hell of a lot more efficient than a bunch of people individually trying to enact their own justice. But that’s what I think this here comes down to. Not the sanctity of our work, or what I or James or whoever says. What do you want to do? Are you willing to take a stand against them for what you think you ought to be doing? And if the time comes, would you put sticking to principles above keeping your position? Those are the sorts of questions you’ve gotta ask, and I can’t answer them for you. But I’m here if you want to talk about it.ā€ That went okay?
9:01 PM
((I LOVE METAROLEPLAYING))
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"Of course, blunt as ever, sir... I can't imagine having the courage to speak as confidently as you do." He leaned back in his seat. "Well... It's not like I don't agree with you... But I'm just some guy, you know? I may put on my brave face for work, but I'm not even a detective or anything. Whatever my "convictions" are, it's not like they can do much in the face of society. I kinda prefer just going with the flow. Between you and James, half the department's constantly picking sides for favors. But I'm just... There in the middle. I can't really say I have any strong attachment to either James's fantastic ideal of a cop, or your nihilist one. In fact, if it weren't for your argument sparring matches, I bet I couldn't even see the difference. I'm just... Not the kind of person who can come to these kinds of decisions as quickly as you. It's like... You 2 are the main characters, and I'm just an NPC. I'll just go with whatever you decide is best. I guess that's why you're the detective, and I'm just the officer."
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Oh, fuck yes. Totally nailed his philosophy. This is interesting, though. An ideological rift in the force? And I’ve played both sides by now… I involuntarily chuckle. ā€œWell, that sort of makes my whole ramble null. If what you want is to know what I want, I say screw them. Maoziwam has protection already, anyway, doesn’t he?ā€ Fishing for info…
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"That's what I thought too. What with him hiring..." He seemed to realize something, and backpedaled awkwardly. "Oh right, I'm sorry sir. I forgot. But apparently his usual company is understaffed for some reason."
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ā€œAnd that’s our problem? I mean, if some guy was making threats to commit a crime against him, or he had some real attempt on his life recently, I guess I’d get it. Wealth or no wealth, that’s the kind of reason we have stuff like witness protection. But if the guy is just paranoid, that’s not really our responsibility.ā€ (edited)
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"You'd have to ask the captain. I don't know why we do these jobs, I just follow them."
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I grunt. ā€œMaybe I will.ā€
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"Is... Is that all?"
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ā€œWell, you’re the one who approached me. That’s all I’ve really got to say on the matter.ā€
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"Oh. Sorry, I guess I just... Expected more."
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ā€œNope. Maybe I’ll think of some sage mentor advice in a few hours.ā€
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"Well, I'll head back to the scene then." Kingsley got out of the vehicle.
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ā€œSee you in a bit.ā€ Alone again, then? Hm.
10:00 PM
I wonder… if I should mess with things.
10:03 PM
I speak out loud to nobody. ā€œCan you hear me? Of course you can. I am the you who you would try and fail to be. The most uncanny sleep paralysis daemon; that of the self. Will you accept me as real? Try to explain it to another? I will return to the back seat. I look forward to viewing your contributions, me.ā€ I look at the car mirror.
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Dana awoke back in her body. She is not in control.
10:06 PM
Dana stares at ???'s unconscious body. "Gah! Who are you?" These are words that come out of her mouth.
10:06 PM
No response.
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What? No, no, no!
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You continue to stare for about 30 seconds. "...It looks like the guy is asleep?"
10:07 PM
You then search through his body.
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How?! It’s not exclusive to me?
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You get up and grab a knife from the kitchenette.
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That’s the amnesiac. He must have done something while I was unconscious!
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You lean down to the bandaged individual and hold the knife against them with one hand and slap them hard with the other. "Hey! Wake up!"
10:08 PM
No reaction.
10:08 PM
"Ack." Dana. (edited)
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I knew it, I fucking knew it! Ariel was naive enough to trust, but this son of a bitch is bad news. I should have killed him!
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You put the knife on the floor and look through your own pockets.
10:09 PM
You pick up the knife again and prop the man up on the couch. You look around the full apartment room for something suitable to restrain him.
10:09 PM
Ariel is asleep in her bed(this is a thing that is noticed during the investigation).
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What the fuck are you doing, idiot? It’s not a body swap, it doesn’t work that way.
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You find a roll of duct tape.
10:10 PM
You tape the man down to the coach with the duct tape.
10:10 PM
It barely functions as a restraint.
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Dana tries and fails to scream.
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You look at the failure of a restraint very nervously.
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GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT
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After a few more minutes, you walk over to Ariel sleeping in the bed.
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DON’T TOUCH HER YOU STUPID LUNATIC
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You yell at her face. "Wake up!" You then slap her too.
10:12 PM
((As soon as Sandra is alone we can begin the greatest game of telephone ever))
10:16 PM
((Okay she showed up to say she is not going to be here this week. Sorry))
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(( 1984 ))
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((Sunday))
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((where was i. oh yeah.)) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
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((I will give you the actions Dana takes and you send them as if Dana did them in your shared channel with Ariel))
8:01 PM
((Revolutionizing the world of inconvenience))
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((you are evil))
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"What are you doing?" Dana.
8:05 PM
"You're not. You just talked."
8:06 PM
"I don't know!"
8:06 PM
"Do you?"
8:07 PM
"That means you're half-awake."
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((this is not quite working lmao she says ten other things before a reply))
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"Why are you here?"
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Are you defective?
8:09 PM
Please, please put it together, holy shit.
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"Do you?"
8:10 PM
"...Why?"
8:13 PM
"I thought this was my house."
8:13 PM
Dana scratches her head. "That's my mistake. My memories are a bit fuzzy."
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I'm killing him.
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"Do you know why I'm here?"
8:20 PM
"Mind control thing? What mind control thing?"
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[Slur]
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"I... huh. Okay."
8:25 PM
I walk out the room and take a seat in the lounge. ((I'm not translating every pichuis message))
8:27 PM
"Dana Craig."
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It wouldn’t be half as insulting if you weren’t an untalented hack.
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"...No."
8:38 PM
"I went to sleep?"
8:38 PM
"Uh, I can't really remember more than that."
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I don't push away, but seem slightly uncomfortable. "Jay's the guy in the white suit? I don't know anything about them."
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This guy is fucked. Who knows how quickly he’ll irreparably damage my body by being insane?! Ariel, come on! Would I act anything like this???
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"I tied Jay up. They broke in, didn't they?"
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REALLY? NO IDEA, THEN?
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"Who is Jay?"
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"I don't have a notebook."
9:07 PM
"What do you mean by 'magic'?"
9:13 PM
"The one in the white suit had a notebook...?"
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Holy shit, even someone who only remembered these past few minutes would understand that’s not the case. What kind of character are you playing here? Who do you think I am?
9:14 PM
YOU SAW?
9:15 PM
YOU SAW HIM USE THE THING I DIRECTLY EXPLAINED THE FUNCTIONALITY OF TO YOU?
9:15 PM
Okay, forget about Ariel. She can still be of assistance even if I have to keep a close eye on her and can’t trust her for shit.
9:16 PM
I don’t think I can influence this body at all like this… I couldn’t feel any outside influence when I was controlling someone. And I definitely would’ve moved something in my initial panic if it was possible.
9:17 PM
All I can do is wait for this to end… for him to see his reflection, or there to be some limit.
9:17 PM
The psychopath tied his own body up, maybe out of a misguided belief that I’d switch to it.
9:18 PM
That should make it easy when I regain control. Just ensure his incapacitation further through other means. He might be strong enough to break them if it’s just those restraints.
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"Don't ignore my questions. What magic?"
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I won’t bother telling Ariel. I’m sure I’d be able to convince her eventually, but her hemming and hawing could cost precious seconds where that man may act first. It’s best to do it before she realizes. Justification can come later.
9:20 PM
Ehn making a deal shouldn’t have made him immortal. It certainly didn’t for me. This is just about if I can get the jump on a larger man with situational advantage.
9:21 PM
I don’t see any lethal objects… so strangulation would be the best option with my bare hands.
9:21 PM
When I get back.
9:22 PM
I’m going to get back.
9:22 PM
I won’t stay in this state forever.
9:22 PM
I’m not going to die.
9:22 PM
I’m not going to die.
9:22 PM
I’m not going to die.
9:22 PM
I’m not going to die.
9:22 PM
I’m not going to die.
9:23 PM
This won’t happen again.
9:23 PM
I’ll find some way to lock the book up. I’ll threaten Ariel if I have to. This is mine alone.
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"I just said the guy in the white suit had it." Dana points at the guy.
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This isn’t death. This isn’t permanent. It’s like sleeping. Nothing I can’t come back from. I’m still alive. I just… need… him to get out of the way.
9:25 PM
I need to get anyone out of the way who poses a threat.
9:26 PM
Dammit, Ariel might try to hold me back!
9:27 PM
Can I come up with some excuse to get her out of the room? Again, I’m confident I can convince her eventually.
9:27 PM
I’ll have to think quickly. It depends on where everyone is when the moment comes which it will.
9:29 PM
Do you think you’re safe, Jay? Did you think you could feign some sort of hapless persona as a backup plan in case you weren’t able to eliminate me permanently, such that I don’t view you as an enemy? That won’t work. I can try to deceive Howard Scott and there’s a chance of success. But Dana Craig knows what’s happening and how it works.
9:33 PM
Ariel. Ariel. Ariel. You can put it together, can’t you? Eventually. Sooner than this sorry fucker can and know to avoid reflections. I mentioned the limit to you. I must have.
9:34 PM
I’m sure I did to Ehn. We’re comrades, right? We had a deal. This wasn’t part of it, sure. But I was supposed to help you. I can’t do it if I don’t get back. Surely I show more promise than this lunatic. I know my capabilities. I know how to make use of them.
9:36 PM
Ariel. ARIEL! Help me! You’re going to get all touchy feely with me? To act like we’re friends? Don’t toy with me! You wanted whoever was closest to take up your time! You’d take a reject from the loony bin for companionship if he was more convenient!
9:38 PM
I’m wrong, right? You’re just an idiot, right? It’s my fault for being careless. Taking over a police officer in front of a stranger and then just leaving the police officer? I should consider myself lucky if only one of them screws me over.
9:40 PM
I won’t… I… I’ll go somewhere I can lock from the inside. I’ll encase this book — and also my body — in an impenetrable tomb until I’m back.
9:40 PM
Duct tape?! That’s…
9:40 PM
Okay, they’re not untying him! They’re just… they’ll look at the writing and realize!
9:41 PM
You’re cornered!
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"What do you mean? Jay's there."
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Shut the fuck up! You’re too late!
9:44 PM
Yes!
9:44 PM
This has to work. It will.
9:47 PM
He won’t avoid this. If Ariel didn’t retain knowledge of the limit, surely…
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"Uh... what? Is it going to do something to me?"
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No!
9:52 PM
Don’t count on him doing it voluntarily! Just—
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Dana looks at the mirror. (edited)
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((Am I back))
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What?
10:12 PM
Wh a t. ?
10:13 PM
No .
10:14 PM
He needs to die. I need a miracle. He
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"What do you mean?"
10:15 PM
"It's me. Dana Craig. What are you expecting?"
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Kill him. Kill me, Ariel. If my only other option is an existence with no impact, I should die.
10:17 PM
No! I can’t give up, there’s way more things to try, if I just hold out…
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I'm somewhat alarmed. "Heist? What heist? Why would we be planning a heist?"
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That’s a lie. You’re afraid. You knew you were making a pact with a demon from the start.
10:18 PM
So why are you surprised? I guess I thought I’d have more time before torment. What a rip.
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"I don't know how to do that."
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I can just… tune it out. My image being used to claim illiteracy.
10:20 PM
Alone with my thoughts. Like working the register. Forever.
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"I still don't know what you're talking about."
10:22 PM
"...Sure, where is the heist from? I shouldn't have agreed without knowing that much."
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I wonder if there was an afterlife. For other people. This couldn’t be it for everybody.
10:23 PM
Maybe when this body runs its course, I’ll be dead the normal way. Or maybe I’ll spectate the rotting carcass forever.
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"Can't you just tell us? You're really being difficult."
10:25 PM
"Oh." (edited)
10:25 PM
"I'll... try? If you want to steal from somewhere, does the exact location matter?"
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That might be nice. I’ll surely have lost it by then, but some part of me might recognize the pride of watching and being the last consciousness on earth. And everything would decay around me, and I’d remain.
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"Kris Pratt?"
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Looking at it that way, I should cherish this part. It precedes an eternity of nothing.
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"Are you testing if I can write? It seems like you're making me do a lot of nothing."
10:27 PM
I grab the notebook, but hesitate to write anything.
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But that’s just one possibility.
10:27 PM
I’d be fine if I…
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"Are you gaslighting me?"
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No. No! Who cares what I think? No one can even hear me!
10:29 PM
It’s not fine! I don’t want to be alone! I didn’t want to be the way I just was the other day, and this is even worse!
10:30 PM
Please, God… no, that wouldn’t work, would it? I sold my soul, used magic, I was just planning to kill someone. None of them would take me.
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"Are you... sure?"
10:31 PM
"Writing that name is going to help me? Do you swear that?"
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Mom! If I’ve gone somewhere, you must have, right?! Please… I’ll do better. I’ll pay all my own expenses. I’ll become someone important. Someone people can be proud of. A name that strikes respect and fear.
10:33 PM
I just need a little more time!
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"...Fine."
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There has to be someone who can help me…! If there’s a power that can put me here, there’s a power that can reverse it!
10:34 PM
No, who am I kidding? There’s many things that only go one way.
10:35 PM
But magic is real! I’ve used it! I just need another miracle in my favor, and I can be back in control…!
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I write the name 'Kris Pratt'.
10:38 PM
Dana found herself in the middle of a grocery store with several bags in her hand.
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Huh? ā€œHuh?ā€
10:39 PM
I’m alive…
10:39 PM
I begin laughing hysterically.
10:39 PM
I slow down a little realizing I’m in public, but take a bit to stifle it completely.
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Dana is not alone in the mind. She can feel ??? trying to control the body. This is unsuccessful because Dana is in control. ((Gonna put you 2 in 1 channel because you can hear each other’s thoughts))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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yawn "morning"
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"What are you doing?"
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"sleeping"
8:05 PM
"what time is it?"
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"You're not. You just talked."
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"i was sleeping and i'm still half asleep so technically still sleeping kinda"
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Ariel May
"what time is it?"
"I don't know!"
8:06 PM
"Do you?"
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Ariel attempts to find her phone. (edited)
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"That means you're half awake."
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"yeah"
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Ariel May
Ariel attempts to find her phone. (edited)
It's still where she left it.
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Ariel looks at the time (edited)
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"Why are you here?"
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It's noon.
8:09 PM
Okay no it can be 11 I won't be evil.
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"I live here, don't I?"
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"...Do you? Why?"
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Ariel gets up and looks around (edited)
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It is indeed still her room in her apartment.
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"Yes, I live here. You live next door to me, remember?"
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"I thought this was my house."
8:14 PM
Dana scratches her head. "That's my mistake. My memories are a bit fuzzy."
8:14 PM
"Do you know why I'm here?"
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"Uh, you're my friend and I left you out on the couch because you were doing your mind control thing."
8:16 PM
"How'd that go? Oh, and where's Jay?"
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"Mind control thing? What mind control thing?"
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"O...kay. Lets go out into the lounge and talk for a bit."
8:24 PM
Ariel gets up and walks out to the lounge.
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"I... huh. Okay." I walk out the room and take a seat in the lounge.
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"So. Let me try this. What's your name?"
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"Dana Craig."
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"Okay, good. Do you remember who I am?"
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"...No."
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"Okay. My name's Ariel. What do you remember before waking me up?"
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"I went to sleep? Uh, I can't really remember more than that."
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"Okay." Pulls dana into a hug "It'll be alright. We'll sort it out. Do you remember Jay at all? Guy in a white suit over there?" (edited)
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Oh right Lounge is the same thing as the living room isnt it
8:41 PM
"Jay" is badly duct taped to the sofa and unconscious.
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oh.
8:42 PM
((sorry, lounge to me means sofa))
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I don't push away, but seem slightly uncomfortable. "Jay's the guy in the white suit? I don't know anything about them."
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"Good morning!" Ehn's voice was shortly followed by her strolling in through the door. "Why is... Why is Jay tied up?"
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shrug "Heck if I know."
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"I tied Jay up. They broke in, didn't they?"
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"N-No???????" Ehn.
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"You did it? No, no, Jay was invited in last night."
8:53 PM
"Ehn, Dana appears to be having memory issues for some reason and I have no idea why."
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"Uh... Dana, do you still have your notebook? The magic one?"
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"Who is Jay?"
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((hi))
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"I don't have a notebook."
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"great. Last I saw it it was here."
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"What do you mean by 'magic'?"
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Ehn begins sniffing around.
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"The one in the white suit had a notebook...?"
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"Oh yeah, he used it after you and then you both passed out on the couch."
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"WHAT!?" Ehn. "Do not ever let them near that!"
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"Oh, sorry, I just thought it was worth seeing what would happen so I let them, why?" (edited)
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"Don't ignore my questions. What magic?"
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"Jay's memory loss might uh... It might confuse them, you know? They could be halfway around the world and be absolutely sure it's the right body." Ehn. (edited)
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"Oh. Uh. Okay, so where is the notebook right now, dana, if they had it?"
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"I just said the guy in the white suit had it." Dana points at the guy.
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((hi))
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"Any ideas, Ehn?"
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"She's right. Smells like it's under that duct tape."
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Ariel peels the duct tape off enough to get at the book.
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Ariel's got the notebook.
9:41 PM
"Okay, where is Jay?"
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Ariel investigates the most recent entries
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Belto Shelk, Marco Gould, Ariel May, Howard Scott, and Dana Craig.
9:42 PM
In that order.
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"What do you mean? Jay's there."
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"Ah, could they.... be in dana?"
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"Do you have a mirror?"
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"Yeah, just in here." Points back at bedroom
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"Get it!" Ehn.
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Ariel goes and grabs her handheld mirror "What's this for?"
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"Okay, now look at it, Jay."
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"Uh... what? Is it going to do something to me?"
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"Just look at it..." Ehn is exasperated at this point.
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Dana looks at the mirror.
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"Well? Are you back, Dana?"
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"What do you mean?"
10:15 PM
"It's me. Dana Craig. What are you expecting?"
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"...Huh."
10:16 PM
"Well, if that's all sorted out, we should plan out this heist! That's the fun part, right?"
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I'm somewhat alarmed. "Heist? What heist? Why would we be planning a heist?"
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"Because... It's fun? You agreed, so no taking it back now. You've got the notebook, so just write down someone's name and have 'em pull it off. It'll be great!"
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"I don't know how to do that."
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"I still don't know what or where we're stealing, Ehn."
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"I still don't know what you're talking about."
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"Ugh... You guys are real annoying, you know that, right? Dana knows the address somewhere in there, it'll probably come back on the way. Just get started and think of someone's name. You have a neighbor here, right? Kris or something? He feels like enough of a non-character, have him do it."
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"...Sure, where is the heist from? I shouldn't have agreed without knowing that much."
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"You know it! It's rattling around in your brain somewhere!"
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"Seriously, what are we stealing and where from?"
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"I honestly have no idea, it's really all Dana. But isn't it more fun that way?"
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"Oh. Okay."
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"Can't you just tell us? You're really being difficult."
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"Ariel, just give Dana the notebook and make her write out a name."
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"Oh."
10:25 PM
"I'll... try? If you want to steal from somewhere, does the exact location matter?"
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"Here. Write 'Kris Pratt'" she hands it to dana (edited)
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"Kris Pratt?"
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"Thats one of our neighbours, just do it please."
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"Are you testing if I can write? It seems like you're making me do a lot of nothing."
10:27 PM
I grab the notebook, but hesitate to write anything.
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"It'll help, trust me."
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"Are you gaslighting me?"
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"No, I promise, I think it'll help you recover your memories."
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"Are you... sure?"
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"80% sure, and if it doesn't then there's no harm done, right?"
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"Writing that name is going to help me? Do you swear that?"
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"As I said, I am not 100% sure, but I think it'll help, and if it doesn't then nothing bad will happen right? I promise."
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"...Fine."
10:36 PM
I write the name 'Kris Pratt'.
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Dana stopped moving(channel split).
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-unknown
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I take in my surroundings, checking if I recognize this store.
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Ghhhh. Hey. Hello. Can you hear me? I state this in my inner monologue.
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What? I look around frantically and then hold my/the head.
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This is a grocery store that Dana does indeed recognize. It is closer to the heist location than it is to her apartment. These are all facts ??? also knows because Dana is thinking about these facts.
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I don't know what's happening to my. My name is Dana Craig. I wrote a name in a notebook and suddenly appeared here.
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ā€œShut up.ā€
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What? Why?! (edited)
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ā€œOh, so you’reā€¦ā€
10:46 PM
Can you still hear me?
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Yes. I can hear you.
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Idiot. You might have been able to take advantage of my not knowing that.
10:48 PM
But it’s fine. I can anticipate you knowing anything I’m trying to do. As long as there’s a chance…!
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What do you expect?
10:49 PM
I'm just trying to understand what's going on. I have no idea what you're trying to do.
10:49 PM
Are you plotting against me?
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I’m going to kill you, Jay. I’ll be gracious enough to let you die properly.
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I'... Why do you think I'm Jay?
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Shut up! How could you possibly have such precise control over your thoughts, and yet be enough of a nonce to use it on the most asinine ruse possible?
10:52 PM
I put the groceries on the ground. Not my problem, Kris.
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Aren't you thinking in the exact same way?? (edited)
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Even if I humored the idea that you really are mentally ill, you must surely be able to make basic inferences about your situation.
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I never said I'm mentally ill, and I'm not putting up any ruse.
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What’s the name of Dana Craig’s father and mother? Her middle name? Her boyfriend? Where does she live?
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The name of her... okay. I've been dealing with some memory problems since I woke up.
10:56 PM
Ariel told me that writing in the notebook should help, so I did. Do you know who she is?
10:56 PM
How would you even know all of that, anyway? (edited)
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Ariel is the pathetic ditz who tricked me into letting my guard down after she invited an armed lunatic into her house.
10:57 PM
I mean, that’s not entirely fair. She… she means well. I think.
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Are you at risk? Under attack?
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I’m safe now. A miracle happened.
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I saw Jay, a person in a white suit who I tied up to the couch, Ehn, a dog thing, and Ariel. They were all in where Ariel said she lived.
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I do a real life physical laugh again. Wait, if I can hear you, did you hear me before? You just never reacted?
10:59 PM
What a joke.
10:59 PM
Who even are you?
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I guess I’d be Jay by elimination. I know an awful lot about Dana Craig, though. Funny that.
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Didn't you say you were going to kill Jay?
11:01 PM
So you're going to kill... yourself? Why would you do that?
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I’m JOKING. I’m Dana Craig, and you’re psychotic or malicious or braindead. Possibly some combination.
11:02 PM
I make my way out of the store.
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Dana Craig is. Outside.
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Gah. You're really being uncooperative.
11:03 PM
Would it be that painful to be honest? I'm stuck inside your head. I can't perceive any way to harm you from here.
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The fresh air. I hope Kris Pratt doesn’t mind the hassle of getting his car from here later, because I have no idea which it is.
11:08 PM
Let’s pretend you’re acting in completely good faith right now. I left my body — in selfless pursuit of the recommendation of others — and you took advantage of my vulnerability. You, the amnesiac going by ā€œJayā€, used the notebook which I explicitly explained the functionality of to steal my body. This part has no explanation that is not of ill intent. Now, theoretically, you contracted some brain tumor that made you re-lose all of your memories, but also implanted the memory that you were Dana Craig. Only that name, though; nothing else. You dicked around for an eternity while acting nothing like me, because you didn’t even understand who you were impersonating. Finally, by chance, I gain an opportunity to act, and conveniently, this time your memory from the last body DOES stay. Now I’m inside my neighbor along with a man who feigns being me, too paranoid to switch back since I can’t ever return to where I just was. (edited)
11:10 PM
The first time you met me, you almost shot me to death. I thought I could maneuver past that, but if you’re prone to resetting to that at any point, I can’t take that kind of risk.
11:12 PM
I’m walking back to Ariel’s house.
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...Wow. Fuck you. (edited)
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Ariel lives in an apartment.
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This is what I meant.
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I know.
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I’m wounded. Though, is this a moral judgement of the information I just conveyed, or did your mind implode again and convince itself I just confessed to genocide? (edited)
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I'm just annoyed. You're seriously so spiteful that you came up with that from almost nothing?
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You don’t make it easy, but it’s the best light to paint you in.
11:18 PM
You could also just be a really terrible supervillain.
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A series of events managed to occur that should blatantly be impossible. Unless you want to propose you're mentally ill, I'm a separate person talking inside your head. Despite everything, the common sense and intuition I did manage to retain tells me this should be impossible. But a minor contrivance occurring assuming you're actually Dana Craig and I'm actually Jay is a step too far? I don't suppose you have an explanation for why I, the villainous mastermind magically here now, came here, completely powerless? Even as I was reluctant until Ariel and Ehn both kept promising this would help me, I'm reportedly carrying out my malicious will and lying to you? You're perfectly free to ask them to confirm my story, though maybe they were planning against me too, and I'm sure you could figure out that all I've done is wake up, tie up Jay, wake up Ariel, talk to them and write that name. 'An eternity' would be more like minutes. If you mean to suggest I could just 'switch back' whenever I want, I would be perfectly happy to, although I don't know how. (edited)
11:24 PM
If this is how you act towards someone you've just meeting, maybe 'almost being shot to death' isn't the fault of the one almost doing the shooting.
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Wow, no way! I’m so shocked you’d side with the shooter.
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It's almost like you're painting the most one-sided account possible, 'Dana'.
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I am, because I don’t think your side matters.
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If I'm going to die, I'd rather stand up than submit to someone who claims my own identity. (edited)
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Who the hell are you? You’re a consciousness that comes into being and before a day has passed resorts to holding people at gunpoint and tying people up. You can call me a bastard, fine. But I’m the bastard my life made me.
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I'm the person my life made me. In the very short, reactive term, perhaps, but I'm no different. (edited)
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Kris's legs turn down the wrong street from what Dana intended.
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ā€œPff. Of course… you think you can win?! I’ll run this body in front of a car before I let you have your way!ā€
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What the hell are you talking about?
11:31 PM
I'm Dana Craig, as far as I can remember. I looked in a mirror and saw my own face, that of Dana Craig. I talked to Ariel and Ehn, and they recognised me as Dana Craig. I looked in my pockets and saw a wallet containing my license, credit card, and $42 of cash, and a vape, pepper spray, keys, and a phone. Those are my possessions. Now you, someone who I can't so much as see the face of, claims to be Dana Craig? Do you expect me to believe you? (edited)
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ā€œArtemis, Douglas. Trick question; Dana Craig is my full name. Trick question; I’m single, and no man I’ve ever seen is worth my time. I live right by Ariel’s, though she said this one outright, so it doesn’t mean much.ā€
11:35 PM
It could go on. Until recently, I worked a dead end job at a convenience store. I got shot the other day. Ariel healed me.
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What? You're just spouting gibberish.
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Kris arrived arrived in front of Maoziwam's storage facility(the one to rob).
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What do any of those sentences have to do with the sentences before them? (edited)
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I live in one of the less glamorous sections of Avengard; some might describe it as a dump. I drink and occasionally vape. The pepper spray is for self defense. I’m trying to explain that I’m a person who wants to live a better life. I’m being careful not to burden myself with loose ends that could disrupt my freedom. Because once I’m back in control, I won’t be betrayed by anyone again.
11:39 PM
Why the fuck is he here.
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I suppose maybe you're waiting for me to figure out you're Jay. You've clearly tried to set yourself up as quite the monster, as an 'armed lunatic'. Considering the impassioned account you've given, it only adds up that you've somehow tricked me into entering your own body to be free to kill me, Dana Craig, the one you seem eager to insist Jay hates so much. You're just droning on now to mock me.
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Yeah, sure. I’m the lunatic who goes by Jay. I used my powers to take away your memory and then try to gaslight you by looking up facts about you. The jigs up. What are you gonna do about it?
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...Haven't I made it clear I'm pretty helpless here? (edited)
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THAT MUST BE SO UNFORTUNATE.
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I have no idea what you're doing now, but my only real hope is for some outside intervention to come about.
11:46 PM
Ehn and Ariel are both probably eager to help you, but if they really do have any amount of good intent, maybe they could manage to talk you down.
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I’m losing my rage a little. If I could just ensure you never go near me again, I might be willing to opt for that.
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I literally woke up in the apartment you were unconscious in. I never would've met you, let alone heard your name, if Ariel dumped me in a sewer somewhere.
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I can convince Ariel, but Ehn seems to be trying to force the three of us to cooperate. I guess it doesn’t really matter when Ehn thinks. I highly doubt it’ll be of any help beyond saying cryptic nonsense.
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It's a dog. Why don't you just kill it?
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It’s a cat.
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Doesn't it look more like a dog?
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Not particularly? There’s certainly some cat-like dogs out there.
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My point stands whether it's a cat or dog.
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It’d be a little unfortunate to kill it. I’m still indebted to it, and I only returned to life because of a promise. I can’t go breaking those for no reason.
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You... died?
11:54 PM
It's just an animal. What can it do, besides somehow talk?
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I don’t know the rules that govern it’s existence. But if it’s capable of feats on the same level as those it gives others access to, I’d prefer to avoid antagonizing it needlessly.
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Why don't you possess it, then? If that notebook I've been dealing with is so good at stealing bodies, shouldn't you claim its incredible powers for yourself? (edited)
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I’ve thought about that sort of thing. If there were a higher power, would I be able to use them with the right name? But I feel like Ehn is just a nickname or abbreviation, and I don’t care enough to try.
11:58 PM
Plus… being an animal? Being a man is already pushing things.
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Ehn could be a female animal.
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Kris is still standing there. You’re welcome for the input.
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As opposed to... a non-binary one, I suppose. Couldn't shapeshifting be in its arsenal, anyway?
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Shapeshifting would certainly have been more convenient than what I currently have to do. Uh, you wouldn’t know what we’re doing here, would you? I’m pretty sure Kris is just some guy, I don’t think he has any special attributes that would allow him access here.
12:03 AM
I thought you were walking?
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No, this just sort of happened. I was trying to go back to Ariel’s. Not sure how we got here. Has something to do with Ehn, maybe?
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Can you... walk away? Go inside? It looks like we've stopped here.
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I try??? To walk inside??
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Kris is immediately stopped by a man in a in a "Palmer Security" uniform. "Excuse me, who are you?"
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ā€œI’m Kris Pratt.ā€ I declare this confidently.
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"What are you doing here, Mr. Pratt?"
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ā€œThe same as usual.ā€ What? What the fuck does that mean? I’m blowing this.
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"Are you saying you come here often?"
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ā€œYeah.ā€ I check through my (his) pockets.
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Car keys and a wallet.
12:18 AM
"So if I call Mr. Maoziwam and tell him Kris Pratt is here, he’ll know what that means?"
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ā€œHopefully.ā€
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"Alright then, wait right here." The guard ducked through a door into a small office.
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Mr. Maoziwam won't, will they? The guard didn't recognise you at all. (edited)
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The only other doors in this room are the exit and what seems to be the entrance to the actual storage facility.
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Oh, I have no idea. We haven’t done anything illegal yet, though.
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You should run inside. They're not stopping you.
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I run inside. Sorry, Kris. ((I am TIRED this is it from me))
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((Okay end session here then))
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((wheeeee))
12:23 AM
((Great session))
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((I will probably do a catch-up session this week to. Well. Catch you guys up))
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The storage facility has a long corridor with doors on either side. Next to each door is a keypad.
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Wow. I have no idea what this is.
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I don't either.
11:38 AM
Try going through one of them.
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Locked.
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Obviously they’re all locked. I don’t think Kris actually has any access. Can I see what’s at the end of the corridor?
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Just a wall.
11:50 AM
"Hey, Dana! How's it going!" Ehn popped out through a wall.
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ā€œNot great. Are you the reason I ended up here?ā€
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"You came here because I asked you to come here, remember? Your memory's really not doing great..."
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ā€œHah. Am I supposed to do anything here?ā€
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"What's wrong? Just take the stuff and go, right?"
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Were you supposed to... know where anything is?
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ā€œThese doors are all locked. Because that’s kind of the whole idea of a place like this. I don’t have anything on me or knowledge of these codes.ā€
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"...Oh." Ehn's expression dropped. "I didn't think of that."
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Can't you just break them down?
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I’m pretty sure this isn’t a material for which that’s feasible. Right?
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Yeah that would not work.
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I look at one of the keypads. Is it like a number thing
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It is a number thing.
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I enter ā€œ1984ā€.
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Nothing.
12:33 PM
"Okay, uh... Hm. I have an idea, give me a bit." Ehn ran out.
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The guard and a police officer that Dana would recognize entered the corridor, and aimed their guns at Dana and ???. "HANDS IN THE AIR!"
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I comply instinctively. ā€œWhat’s going on.ā€
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"What are you doing back here?" The officer approached, and took out handcuffs.
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ā€œI dunno. The door wasn’t locked.ā€ This seriously is my best plan.
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"I'll be taking you down to the station." The officer tried to handcuff Dana.
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I don’t even have a weapon. What, am I supposed to steal their guns or something?
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Go ahead. You're going to get us killed either way.
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Sorry, Kris, but prison wouldn’t be much better. I try to take a gun.
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((Roll))
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((14))
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The officer shot Kris in the soldier. "Hah… I actually just did that?"
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ā€œAGH! I know my rights!ā€
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"Oh yeah…!?" He forced a defiant-looking face. "Well… What are they, then?"
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:01 PM
I remain silent. The answer.
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None? (edited)
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"Hey, I asked you a question!" He aimed the gun at Kris.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:06 PM
ā€œThe third amendment.ā€ I am in pain.
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"Can you google that?" The officer asked the guard. (edited)
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:19 PM
ā€œIt’s about quartering troops! You can’t force me to house you people in my world!ā€ I am going to sound as unreasonable as possible.
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"Detective James says us cops can do anything we want."
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:26 PM
I laugh. ā€œDetective James has not faced a lawsuit before, I’m guessing.ā€
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"Uh. Well… I actually wouldn’t know that."
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:33 PM
"Sh..." Hm. I guess this guy might catch on if I assume James refers to a 'her'. "Clearly, none of you have passed a reasonable police academy."
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"I passed with flying colours." He doesn’t sound too proud of this.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:34 PM
"And how do you think colors is spelled, huh?"
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"What?"
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:36 PM
"Exactly. No patriotism at all."
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"My patriotism? Well… I guess I can’t really say I strongly feel one way or another there. We live in a country. I’ll leave the specifics to wiser people."
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:37 PM
((if you give me a character i know to try to impersonate i will vaguely extrapolate on interactions i've seen with them. if you give me the person with only the detail about their name being Kris Pratt existing i will do this))
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"What are you doing? Arrest him!" The guard.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:45 PM
"Indecisive as always." I laugh.
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"Are you mocking me? You don’t even know me!" The officer tried to handcuff Kris.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:50 PM
"So you'd think, Kingsley."
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"What!?" He stopped.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:53 PM
"Well, would you accept that I just had a lucky guess?"
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"No." He aimed his gun.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:55 PM
"You ever heard of the collective unconscious?"
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"Wh-What?"
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 1:58 PM
"I mean, you're not some enigmatic superspy, Kingsley. Your name is public knowledge, more or less. Anything that can be known, will be known. Information spreads like a virus in the modern world. And I am that virus. A living creature. A Soul."
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Kingsley does not understand how to react to anything that’s happening right now.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 2:00 PM
"Well, that's fine. I, Kris Pratt, don't really get this either. But on a greater level, I'm sure you hearing this will matter. Just appendages of a larger being, the two of us, eh?"
2:00 PM
I'm not resisting.
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The guard shot Kris.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 2:01 PM
"Ow! What the fuck!? Just cuff me, dumbass! Or leave me the hell alone if you can't bring yourself to do that!!"
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Kris is now quickly bleeding to death.
2:03 PM
"Wh-What the hell is happening!?" Kingsley. "I’m doing your job, Johnathan." The guard speaks with irritation.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 2:03 PM
"This is so fucked up. I hope you know you killed a man who did nothing today. For the protection of the rich." I sputter through blood.
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Good job.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 2:03 PM
I try.
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"…" Kingsley looked torn. "Call an ambulance." "What are you talking about? Did you not get your instructions?" The guard.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2022 2:07 PM
"This guy, he's already given up his entire being to this asinine position. But you're different, Kingsley. I don't know why you joined the force, but I can't imagine this was what you wanted."
2:08 PM
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"Wh-What I wanted? I don’t-!? This was just supposed to be a simple job! I didn’t want anything!" "Move on." The guard.
2:10 PM
Kris Pratt died.
😭 1
2:10 PM
((Channel split))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana woke up back in control of her body, in Ariel’s apartment. Ariel is here. ??? is not. ((End session))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:11 PM
"Ariel?"
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"Dana, hi."
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((Conversation success))
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:31 PM
"Oh, thank god." I lean in to provide a platonic hug. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."
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"Are you okay? What happened?" (edited)
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:32 PM
SQUID GAMES ā€¼ļø
šŸ‘ 1
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...
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:32 PM
"I don't know where to start. First, just to make sure, where did the other guy go?"
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"I... Don't know. He was here when I left but disappeared when I came back. Hopefully he's just been picked up by the police, if not I'll be in a bit of trouble."
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:35 PM
"Okay... that's fine, I guess. I did enter the body of that detective I was talking about. I didn't really find any useful information, but I did note that I only became conscious when it was sunrise. It seems like entering someone who is asleep just makes me experience being asleep."
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"Oh. Well that sucks." (edited)
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:37 PM
"But when I did what would presumably bring me back... my body was occupied. I watched helpless for a long time, and more or less put together what happened. Then, when my imposter wrote down the name of Kris Pratt, both our consciousnesses occupied one body for a time. I saw inside the mind of that man, and I can say confidently he can't help us. We're lucky if someone doesn't wind up dead because of him."
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"oh... I see. Yeah that's pretty bad."
8:39 PM
"I'm sorry I let that happen, I just figured it'd be a useful test. Is the book still here?"
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:40 PM
((Is it))
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The book is still there.
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:41 PM
I grab the book as quickly as I can. "It's fascinating, in the worst sort of way. I clarified early on whether he had the kind of amnesia that affects old memories or new ones, but I don't think that was the full story. He really claimed to be Dana Craig, and given I was seeing in his thoughts, I think this was a genuinely held belief. And he said he'd kill me to cement this. Either his awareness resets at random, or he's someone who can consciously alter what he thinks to deceive."
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"oh wow. Yeah, that's frightening." Pulls Dana tighter
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:45 PM
I back away. "Anyway. Kris Pratt is dead. Some nonsense happened. I guess Ehn influenced things so that he'd be at the place we're supposed to rob? But nothing came of it. On the bright side, I do think I have more of an understanding of where my limits are..."
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"So why are we robbing this place? Ehn said you knew but had no idea herself."
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:49 PM
"Well, for money. That's kind of the assumed reason. Though I wouldn't mind adding on to that. I don't think I have a real job anymore, is the thing. And I was worried about medical payments, though you've probably made that irrelevant."
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"Why would a security company have money on the premises?"
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 8:53 PM
ā€œā€¦I would assume to secure it. I don’t really get why this money needs to be stored and moved, but wanting such an obscene amount is already insane. Don’t really care what the rich guy is thinking.ā€
8:54 PM
ā€œOh! I have the full name of a guard stationed there now. I wonder when the best time to use that would beā€¦ā€
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"Hmm. I honestly don't know. I suppose soon would be wise since you know that they're there but it's tough to really know. Would it be a good idea to learn more about this guard and the building first?"
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:03 PM
ā€œI know a surprising amount about him already, actually. The building’s still an issue, though. Every door is protected by a number keypad, and I don’t gain the knowledge of other people.ā€
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"I see. We could always try the ol' fingerprint trick but there's no surefire way to know that'll work."
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:13 PM
I think to myself for a bit. ā€œā€¦I mean, I don’t need to open it. The guard in question isn’t actually with the security company; it’s possible he doesn’t even know how to get into any vaults. All I need is an excuse for someone else to need to check inside. From there, I sneak in behind them or note what they entered to get inside. I doubt I could take everything with my resources, but I should be able to smuggle something.ā€
9:14 PM
I look up. ā€œOh, ah, and I’d divvy it up with you for your support. Maybe you can fix the guy up if I injure him. He doesn’t seem all that bad, for a cop.ā€
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"Sure, if it's worth it. Who's this guy?" (edited)
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:17 PM
ā€œKingsley. John Kingsley.ā€
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"So, how do you know him?"
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:19 PM
ā€œHe was the partner of the detective I went into last night, but got transferred right after I met him there to this security detail. He was there by the guard who killed Kris.ā€
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"I see. Well then, I think I also know someone that works there. An old boyfriend of mine, didn't last long, name of Mats Rumen, frankly a real piece of work."
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:25 PM
ā€œCurious. I wonder if that would be better? Kingsley was already losing faith in the establishment; he may be more useful as himself. I mean, from your description, I doubt this guy’d be of any help.ā€
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"Possibly. Do you want to try him then? He's definitely expendable."
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:31 PM
ā€œā€¦Yeah. Please give me the dirt on your ex so I can impersonate him.ā€
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"Frankly, I barely knew him. We met on tinder and I thought he would be worth dating as a short fling but as soon as he realised what I was and started throwing hate my way I dumped his ass hard. One of those alt-right types, y'know?" (edited)
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((DONALD TRUMP DOES NOT EXIST IN ADVEHNT GUARD))
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:35 PM
((Make america grizzwald again))
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((there's noone else that did MAGA?))
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:35 PM
((just Grizz nvm))
9:35 PM
((poor memory of the goat))
9:37 PM
ā€œAlright. That should be easy, then. Thanks.ā€
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Knock, knock But it sounds like it's coming from outside Dana's door and not Ariel's door.
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:39 PM
ā€œHm? …I won’t start anything without telling you, don’t worry. Let me just check who this is.ā€ Still holding the book, I go over to my door.
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Ariel peeks out the door too.
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Inventing creative new ways to spoiler tag names, this person is standing outside Dana's door looking miserable.
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:42 PM
Oh.
9:42 PM
ā€œGrace?ā€
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"Dana? Did I get the wrong door?"
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:45 PM
ā€œNo, that’s right. I just… anyway. What brings you here?ā€
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"Could I uh... Could I crash at your place for a few days?"
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"Who's this, Dana?"
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:48 PM
I sigh. ā€œā€¦Yeah, okay.ā€ I can imagine what she’s going through. But if there’s one complaint about my home she’s getting kicked out!
9:48 PM
ā€œIt’s… a friend.ā€
9:50 PM
ā€œGrace, this is my neighbor, Ariel. Never really knew her, but coincidence caused us to meet properly recently.ā€
9:51 PM
ā€œAnyway, do you like, need anything…? I’m not sure how much I have stocked in terms of food.ā€
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"..." She bit her lip. "I'll manage."
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:54 PM
ā€œā€¦Okay.ā€ I don’t know what to say. What would I want someone to say to me? Have I ever even had someone like that, let alone lost them? Actually, were they that close? It’s hard to tell. Maybe she’s just freeloading for unemotional reasons and I’m being played. Whatever.
9:55 PM
((I LOVE TYPING INTERNAL THOUGHTS INTO A MULTIPLE PERSON CHANNEL, WHERE THE PLAYER CAN READ THEM BUT CANNOT REACT TO THEM IN CHARACTER))
9:56 PM
Wait, fuck. Where will I be alone now? Do I trust Grace? I want to be charitable, but I can’t deny my answer is absolutely not.
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"...Thanks."
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Dana Craig 8/7/2022 9:57 PM
I can’t exactly lock myself in the bathroom the whole time, after all— ā€œNo worries.ā€ (edited)
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"Oh, and uh... If you see someone named Carolyn Blythe, don't tell her anything. She's... She's deluded. Insane."
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ā€œā€¦Carolyn Blythe, huh? Okay.ā€
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"I'll... I'll figure it out, I'll deal with it." She tried to open the door to Dana's apartment before once again remembering it was locked.
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(( I SURE HOPE I SEE SOMEONE NAMED CAROLYN BLYTHE (DELUDED (INSANE)) ))
10:02 PM
I remember that the door is locked. I unlock it. ā€œSorry.ā€
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"It's fine." She went in.
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I go back to Ariel. ā€œā€¦Normally, I’d be worried if Grace came to me implying someone was after her. But come on. Carolyn Blythe? That’s a soccer mom name, not a mafioso. I’m sure she’s just being weird about something.ā€
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"I did read something about a cult leader called Edward Blythe. There might be a relation?"
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ā€œI dunno.ā€ I look up both names.
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((Roll))
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Dana Craig remembers how to use a phone.
10:08 PM
((20))
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Carolyn Blythe is a therapist working in Avengard, which she is advertising for clients. She also has a completely empty twitter account. Edward Blythe is a mass murderer/cult leader who poisoned an entire building of people about 9 years ago. That building was the headquarters of his cult, Edlightenment, which he used to exploit for monetary gain. He is currently serving time in prison.
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(( PEAK NAME ))
10:13 PM
(( Was Edward also in Avengard? ))
10:13 PM
(( do I not get to know this secret detail ))
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Edlightenment did operate out of Avengard.
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"Yeah, apparently our friend detective Scott is the one that solved that case."
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This is also a true fact.
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ā€œMm. Not willing to buy that’s a coincidence. Doesn’t matter right now, anyway. Lady probably won’t ever show up, and Ed certainly won’t.ā€
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"Well then."
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ā€œā€¦Yeah. Back to planning.ā€ I head back into Ariel’s, for now. ā€œSwitching out midway isn’t really an option, since he’ll realize somethings wrong and maybe act unpredictably and not be where I need when I switch back in. So I think I need to do this all in one go. I’m just not sure if that means I should plan to have something possible to do quickly, or plan on how to stay out indefinitely.ā€
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"What's with the mirror thing by the way?"
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"Did I not mention? That's how I switch back. Seeing my-- or, uh, 'my', reflection. The only way, to my knowledge. Short of dying, I guess."
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"I see, I thought you could just do it whenever, that's a bit harder to deal with."
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"It is. Though I'm more worried about the other way around. There's a lot of reflective surfaces in the world; it's pretty anxiety inducing looking around trying to not see something."
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"Yeah, that's pretty rough."
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ā€œā€¦Anyway, I’m going to think about the plan. There’s no immediate deadline. For the moment, I’ll test a few things out while I have some downtime.ā€ I pull out and check my notes from all the way back in chapter one, and write these ā€œnamesā€ in this order until one does something (if any does).
  • Dfgshffhjsf
  • Arial (sic) May
  • Miss May
  • Ehn
  • Yahweh
  • Punxsutawney Phil
  • Nathan Smith (I don’t know anyone with this name, but there probably is someone.)
  • [The head of state of France]
I think about writing ā€œBelto W. Shelkā€ (the dead one) but then realize how obviously dumb of an idea that is.
10:57 PM
(( My main goal is for Atmey to suffer. ))
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Dana loses consciousness after writing the name Nathan Smith((what the fuck have you done)). (edited)
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LMAO
11:00 PM
New character just dropped
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((This is the end of Dana's session.)) (edited)
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Worth
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((This is like. Chronologically fucked unless I state that it is at least 3AM in-universe now.)) (edited)
11:03 PM
((So chapter 3s are both over.)) (edited)
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There is no fucking way you had a character named Nathan Smith planned I refuse to believe this
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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4: Almighty Grasp
12:08 PM
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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When Dana awoke, she found herself wearing a dinosaur costume that one could describe as Elusive. Her hands are tied behind her back, and she is seated in a vehicle with a male driver(Who is Jackson Day, the guy who is Jerma) and a woman in a suit in the passenger seat. (edited)
11:06 PM
((Session end for real.)) (edited)
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????!!?!!
11:07 PM
I forgot there was a real character with the last name smith but still
11:07 PM
Bob is not short for Nathan and never will be fuck you
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i should’ve just stuck with strider. but that just wasn’t a universal enough surname
11:23 PM
the worst part is after all this i don’t even think im going to do anything other than try to leave immediately there is no other justified action for dana
11:24 PM
if you want to contrive things such that this segment happens for some time this is your advance warning hope this is the type of car with NO mirrors
11:24 PM
i guess I’ll yiik out a few words first
11:24 PM
Wait no
11:24 PM
Fucking
11:25 PM
The actual person isn’t visible from the outside of the suit is it fuck
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((:trollmafia:))
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Hello, hello? Hey, Ariel! Hey, wow, day 4. I knew you could do it. Uh, hey, listen, I may not be around to send you a message tomorrow. banging It's-It's been a bad night here for me. Um, I-I'm kinda glad that I laid out my plans for you clears throat uh, when I did. Uh, hey, do me a favor. banging Maybe sometime, uh, you could check inside those suits in the back room? banging I'm gonna to try to hold out until someone checks. Maybe it won’t be so bad. bang bang Uh, I-I-I-I always wondered what was in all those empty heads back there. chime plays. You know...deep moan oh, no - noises followed by a loud screech and static
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((Session on Saturday))
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I scream for a second.
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"Oh god, he’s up. Knock him out again." Jackson.
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ā€œWhat the fuck is this?!ā€ Why am I such a god damn moron? ā€˜Oh, I’m already pretty sure these tests won’t do anything, so I can just write them down without making sure it’s safe first.’ What would be the point of a fucking test, then??! Am I defective?
2:08 PM
If they knock me out, will I go back?
2:10 PM
ā€œWhy am I wearing a fursuit?ā€ This is probably something anyone would ask, right?
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Dana begins to gently float off the seat.
2:13 PM
"Aaaaagh! Every time! You speak complete nonsense, and you make all of this infinitely worse! Are you going to pretend to have amnesia now?" Jackson.
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"Ah!" Ok. They fly now. "You going to kill me, then?" If this is the mob, I could use this for information. Also I obviously try to look at the mirror but I assume that doesn't work.
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It does not work. "I will if you force me to. So sit there and shut up." Jackson.
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"Hm." Obviously he's already annoyed at me. And-- wait, is this the fucking twitter guy? I sit there and shut up for the time being.
2:28 PM
Should I ask him to take the mask off? It's not like doing that will free me. Though I doubt he'd be open to any requests at all.
2:28 PM
I'll make my move when we get to wherever we're going, I guess. Any later and there's no guarantee a mirror will be around.
2:28 PM
Please protect me, Ariel...
2:31 PM
Wait, a dinosaur...... and that's the guy I screenshotted the pfp of. Is this that streamer? Somethingsaurus? I don't know what his real name is, I just happened to decide to fuck with this small online community.
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The car arrived in front of a mall and parked.
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Why is twitter relevant now? This is stupid.
2:32 PM
"Could you at least take off the mask? I can barely breathe." Moment of truth.
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"You really refuse to learn, don’t you?" Jackson got out of the car and opened the door for Dana. From this angle, a recent gunshot wound was visible.
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((on him or me))
2:37 PM
((regardless. thank god that didn't work i (real life) do not want this occurrence to end ever))
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((On him))
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I guess I'm able to walk. I slowly get up and out of the car. Worst case scenario, I die and go back. "You're with the mob, right?" It doesn't really matter if what I'm saying makes sense for this guy if he's apparently been spouting nonsense.
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Jackson just grabbed Dana's hand and dragged him into the mall. The woman followed from behind.
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Whatever. This doesn't even matter. I halfheartedly try to wriggle my hands out.
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((Roll))
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((4))
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This fails.
2:52 PM
Jackson brought them into the staff area.
2:58 PM
This fucking guy is waiting alone in the staff area.
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smokin
3:00 PM
I am just standing here.
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"Is he here?" The woman. "He's in the back, don't worry. We'd never break our promises in this business, would be Jackson?" Smoking guy.
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"Is this me? What, am I 'in the back'?"
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"No, we're discussing your friend, you moron. The one you had to hang around so much you nearly fucked us all over." Smoking guy.
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"Ah, of course. And I need to be here for this?"
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"Ever hear of a hostage exchange? Getting lawyers to pull of kidnappings isn't cheap." Smoking guy.
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"It does seem a little outside the job description."
3:18 PM
"So wait, was I kidnapped by a lawyer or by the mob? Trying to get a feel for the sides here."
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A new guy came in from another door. "Oh, they're here." "Indeed they are, Gordon. You can let the Kidink kid go, and put old Extinctasaurus here in his place." Smoking guy. (edited)
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"Kidink? Also, that's good to know. I am the Elusive Sentasaurus, right?"
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"...Yes? You getting memory problems again?" Smoking guy. (edited)
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I laugh. "In a sense, maybe. I'm just a lost soul passing through. ...'I'm not even supposed to be here today'."
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Gordon dragged Dana through the door he'd come in from, and into a room with 2 prison-like cells. Sam Kidink and an unfamiliar girl about his age are both trapped in the cells. ((Are you ready for more insane games of telephone))
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lmao
3:29 PM
don't worry, i was going to initiate one myself as soon as this was over
3:30 PM
((for a brief second when you said kidink i thought the implication was that i was him somehow. this would be the greatest way to reference ever17 (forced to wear an animal suit)))
3:30 PM
"So, who are you two?"
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Sam turns to the Sentasaurus. ā€œHey, it’s you. Are you working for these people? Or did you come to bring some oreos too? Not my usual breakfast choice, but if you’re going to be the third uninteresting person to enter the room today, you should at least do something useful.ā€ Then he turns to the girl. ā€œDid you suspect this might happen?ā€
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"Why would someone eat oreos for breakfast, what." What.
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"Are you actually kidding me? After everything you've done to me, you can't even remember me?" The girl.
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"Which one of you is the hostage exchange person, exactly? I'm one of them, I guess. Or is this more complicated than one to one?"
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ā€œYou already know, and for the sake of clarity, you also know who she is. What, did you fall after trying to fly? …Well, anyway, do you know the other guy?ā€ Sam.
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Dana Craig
"Why would someone eat oreos for breakfast, what." What.
ā€œWho knows? You would, though.ā€ Sam again.
3:41 PM
ā€œSeriously, though. Do you know the guy in the brown suit or not? What do you even remember? Who are you?ā€ Sam.
3:42 PM
"Gordon" is wearing a brown suit, for note.
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"Sorry, but the only person here I know is me." I laugh. "I mean, probably. I'm the Elusive Sentasaurus. Real name who cares. This man is named Gordon. One of you two is probably named Kidink, too, though I have no idea which because that doesn't even sound like a real name."
3:44 PM
"Of course, maybe I'm not him. I mean, people are their memories, aren't they? If someone can't recall or found their personality on the sum of their past experience, that person might as well have died."
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ā€œThen why did he walk in with you?ā€
3:45 PM
ā€œSpeaking of which, he’s been awfully quiet. Hey, brown suit. Are you even awake?ā€ Sam.
3:46 PM
"I'm wide awake." Gordon.
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"Kidink's supposed to be let go, right? That's the arrangement. See, I'm getting it."
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Dana Craig
"Sorry, but the only person here I know is me." I laugh. "I mean, probably. I'm the Elusive Sentasaurus. Real name who cares. This man is named Gordon. One of you two is probably named Kidink, too, though I have no idea which because that doesn't even sound like a real name."
ā€œNeither of us has that name. She’s Sophie. …I’m Shawn Elliot. Last I recall, you said you were ā€˜Bob Smith’. If that’s even a real name either.ā€ Sam. "You're actually deranged." Sophie.
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"Bob? No, it should be Nathan." I say this before thinking about whether I should.
3:50 PM
"I probably do look pretty crazy right now, haha. Sorry. Honestly, I've been having a pretty lousy day. Though I have probably been having a worse day."
3:50 PM
I look up.
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Dana Craig
"Bob? No, it should be Nathan." I say this before thinking about whether I should.
Gordon fell over in shock.
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"Is that guy okay?"
3:56 PM
"Honestly, this is nothing short of a miracle right now. Odds of one person from seven billion... And it's someone you know, kind of."
3:57 PM
"If this were a movie, I'd probably get annoyed at a contrivance."
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ā€œWell, ā€˜Bob Smith’, I don’t know what happened to you, but you don’t know anything. I myself admit that if I had the choice, I would leave right now and escape somewhere and start living a new life, seeing as I highly doubt you would really let either of us escape just like this. However, even if I did leave, I would retain my personality, because otherwise I would not be the person willing to make that decision in the first place! You don’t just become a new person in the process. That might as well be dying.ā€ ā€œYou’re right, you’re currently being a completely different personality. But, in that case, you’re not the Sentasaurus at all. …You don’t have the right to say you’re him.ā€ ā€œSo, does Bob Smith come to mind or not?ā€ All Sam.
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Just gotta strike a good balance with how vague and mysterious I am... I chuckle again. "Yeah, the Sentasaurus is in like, two different layers of imprisonment right now. Three if you count the suit. Are you implying Bob Smith is responsible for your captivity? That would be inexplicable, given he, by which I mean me, has been restrained and put in a cell. Also, leaving a place obviously doesn't make you a different person. That's dumb."
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The woman from earlier entered the room. "Are you all needlessly slow, or what? Open the cell and let him out."
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"I'm a little tied up at the moment, sorry."
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ā€œā€¦So you’re here too. Can’t wait to hear about your involvement in this.ā€ Sam doesn't directly address the woman in this statement.
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Dana Craig
Just gotta strike a good balance with how vague and mysterious I am... I chuckle again. "Yeah, the Sentasaurus is in like, two different layers of imprisonment right now. Three if you count the suit. Are you implying Bob Smith is responsible for your captivity? That would be inexplicable, given he, by which I mean me, has been restrained and put in a cell. Also, leaving a place obviously doesn't make you a different person. That's dumb."
ā€œWell, leaving your memories behind is equally as pointless as leaving a place, then.ā€ Sam.
4:13 PM
Gordon went to Sam's cell, and unlocked it. "You can leave now. Your stuff's over there."
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"I'm certainly not going to dispute that this is pointless. But maybe it won't be, later on. Shawn Elliot... I'll remember that."
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ā€œIn more ways than one, I imagine. Anyway, if you could leave, Sophie would prefer to not have to deal with people she hates, so I’ll leave once all of you do.ā€ Sam picks up all his belongings and puts everything in his backpack, then waits.
4:17 PM
"You're the only one leaving, Sam. After all the trouble I went through to get you out, you owe me some gratitude you ungrateful child." The woman.
4:17 PM
"Wait! Then let me out too! I'm not getting stuck with this lunatic!" Sophie.
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"I really would like just a second of solace. Like, to go to the bathroom, or something."
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Dana Craig
"I'm certainly not going to dispute that this is pointless. But maybe it won't be, later on. Shawn Elliot... I'll remember that."
ā€œI’m sure you’ll find that name useful later when you go around looking for a totally different person.ā€ Sam.
4:19 PM
"And this dinosaur guy is going in instead? I wouldn’t subject anyone to that. And it wasn’t even my fault I ended up here.ā€ Sam again.
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"True, I'll also be looking for the Elusive Sentasaurus. I guess the joke of the name is the difficulty of that, huh?"
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ā€œI was hoping to leave right away at first, but if I’m still going to have to deal with all of you and I can’t just start a new life, then that wouldn’t suit my daily routine at all.ā€ Sam.
4:22 PM
"Oh will you stop being so ridiculous? You have to wait for your mother to bail you out, and all you can respond with is pathetic teenage rebellion. Typical." The woman.
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Dana Craig
"True, I'll also be looking for the Elusive Sentasaurus. I guess the joke of the name is the difficulty of that, huh?"
ā€œWell, nonexistent things are elusive, after all.ā€ Sam.
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"Do you truly think you're representing the interests of your child?" I direct this at the woman.
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ā€œI never asked to be bailed out by anyone else. If I could’ve found a solution on my own, at least that would’ve been entertaining. But I suppose I don’t even get to have that.ā€ Sam walks back next to the cell, but not inside. ā€œAs long as all of you - or at least Nathan - are still here, I’m waiting here.ā€
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Dana Craig
"Do you truly think you're representing the interests of your child?" I direct this at the woman.
ā€œDo you truly think you’re representing the interests of ā€˜The Elusive Sentasaurus’? Sam.
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((am i in the same cell as sophie??? i dont get the layout))
4:29 PM
"My understanding is that the Elusive Sentasaurus just kind of says shit. I'm probably doing good enough for a lost soul."
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"Okay, Sentasaurus. Just get in the cell." Gordon annoyedly pushed him into the prison.
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((i thought i was already in th))
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((I don't think you ever got in?))
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((i just assumed idk oh well))
4:32 PM
"Alright, jeez. Are you gonna kill me now, or something?"
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Sam tries to pull him out of the cell.
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"Ow. What?"
4:32 PM
I don't particularly resist this.
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Gordon does resist this.
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Sam fails. Gordon shuts and locks the cell.
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"Why the hell does a mall have jail cells, anyway?"
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"Get me out of here! Sam! You can't leave me here!" Sophie. "He can, and will." The woman.
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"I'm going to make everyone's life miserable if I don't get to go to the bathroom. It's going to smell awful in here and everyone will be culpable."
4:36 PM
((im fucking dying from the fact that this is just the most logical course of action for me to be taking right now. advehnt guard is peak))
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ā€œā€¦I’m sticking to my word. I’m staying here until the Sentasaurus is gone. Or, let’s do things this way. I clearly have no idea how to unlock these, so why don’t both of you leave? I want to stay behind and talk for a little. Then I’ll go. Maybe.ā€ Sam.
4:37 PM
The woman tries to forcefully drag Sam away.
4:38 PM
Gordon unlocks the handcuffs on Sentasaurus through the bars. "Okay, now take off the suit."
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"Oh thank God." I take off the suit.
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ā€œProbably not. If you stay there, you’ll probably just be stuck for a while, being unable to make any new useful memories, so you’ll be stuck as ā€˜Nathan’, probably. Have fun with that.ā€ Sam said this earlier but I sent it in the wrong place lmao
4:42 PM
ā€œā€¦Do you really want me to force the issue? It’s seriously not that hard to listen to my request. Don’t take off the suit, Sentasaurus! It’s your ticket out of here.ā€ Sam now(he said this)
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"My ticket out of here is a little different. I don't know what you're talking about, how the hell could this suit do anything?"
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ā€œPut it back on! Don’t you want to pull off an escape for publicity or whatever? Isn’t that what you do?ā€
4:43 PM
Gordon took the suit, and put it with Sam and Sophie's things.
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"I-- well, I guess it's too late to take that back, at any rate."
4:45 PM
((theres no fucking reflective surfaces. in the cell right lmao))
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ā€œWell, what is your ticket, then? Answer this and I’ll explain.ā€ Sam.
4:46 PM
((There are none))
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ā€œI’m going to ascend back to the plane I came from, through the use of a gateway.ā€ I explain this obvious fact.
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Sam swings the backpack to pull away from the woman. He also tries to unzip it in the process. ā€œThen do it now. And fine, I’ll explain: put on the suit, and you’ll be able to fly. It’s that simple. Maybe that will help you.ā€ (edited)
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Who the FUCK is naomi
4:53 PM
I know
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"I can't do it now. These things aren't just anywhere. I can't create a gateway."
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Sam takes out the fish. Sam eats raw fish, then holds the rest of the fish up against the bars of Sophie’s cell.
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"What."
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The fish immediately regenerates after having been bitten into.
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Dana Craig
"I can't do it now. These things aren't just anywhere. I can't create a gateway."
ā€œSo how are you going to escape that way, then? Why not just fly?ā€ Sam.
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"I don't think I can fly. It's a lot less out there of a possibility to just try to use the bathroom and go from there. What, do I have a clothes-dependent superpower? Is that the idea?"
5:02 PM
"Before you question my priorities, note that you just ate raw fish."
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Sam pulls the bars of the cell away. ā€œYeah, apparently this is how it works. No idea what the fish store owner put in thisā€¦ā€
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Dana Craig
"I don't think I can fly. It's a lot less out there of a possibility to just try to use the bathroom and go from there. What, do I have a clothes-dependent superpower? Is that the idea?"
ā€œYes.ā€ Sam.
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I laugh. "Well, alright. By any chance, have you heard the name Ehn before?"
5:04 PM
If it's now possible, I step out of the cell.
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Sam broke open the other cell actually.
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Tragic...
5:10 PM
((in funny abstract struggles it may well be impossible to give dana 4 a meaningful icon that doesn't spoil anything for other pcs))
5:10 PM
((though i figure they might just realize already ooc))
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((I'm pretty sure they don't))
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((are you doing the thing where you forward my messages for sent to send))
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((Yeah lmao))
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((epic))
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ā€œI simply observed someone else’s actions and copied them. Which I’m sure is what being an internet personality is all about. And no, I have not heard of them, at least from your perspective.ā€ Sam.
5:20 PM
Sophie jumped out of the cell. Gordon ran for the exit.
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"An enigmatic answer." I am in the cell.
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ā€œSo, Sophie, what’s will you do now?ā€ Sam.
5:22 PM
"I guess escape? I didn't really plan to, but he's here now." Sophie.
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Dana Craig
"An enigmatic answer." I am in the cell.
ā€œWell, simply telling anyone the solutions is never interesting.ā€ Sam.
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"I'm beginning to think I'm the only sane entity in this world."
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((Dana Craig top 100 quote))
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((Dana Craig will not reach a top 100 she will only reach a top Craigillion))
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ā€œWell, I have nothing left to ask whoever this guy not named Bob Smith is, so I suppose I’ll just leave too. And remember, if for some reason you really choose to stay in this city, find some calm place to go to. Like the fish store. Though maybe not anymore considering the circumstances.ā€ Sam.
5:27 PM
Several armed guards entered the room. "Get back in your cell!" They aimed their weapons at Sophie.
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"Good luck with whatever yo--ah! Jesus. What the hell is she even here for? I know I pissed some people off but what about her?"
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Dana Craig
"I'm beginning to think I'm the only sane entity in this world."
ā€œThen you should examine the world better.ā€ Sam.
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"I'm not one for escapism. This is just a game. I can't speak for the character I'm playing, but I don't want to just hide behind a costume. I've no reason to linger any longer than necessary."
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ā€œAlso, what is all of this? Really. It’s all beyond my understanding right now.ā€ Sam throws the suit at Sophie. ā€œWhy don’t you try it? Put this on. I’m out of better ideas, but if it worked for him, it might for you. Unless you also want to eat this fish. sigh This whole fighting thing is already boring.ā€
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"If I'm correct, it should be unchained to a specific person. Sorry for losing it, then."
5:35 PM
"Are you sure it's a good idea to be so flippant? You guys are still being held at gunpoint, you know."
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One of the guards opened fire on Sophie as she tried to catch the costume. Naomi ducked.
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NAOMI WOULD NEVER DUCK
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((You know her name already there is no point hiding it))
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"Jesus! Shoot me, if anyone!"
5:37 PM
Okay, maybe that's a little excessive. I'll be able to be back in just a little bit... but I certainly wouldn't mind the shortcut.
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Sam eats fish again yup. He also attempts to tackle the guard after ducking in a definitely unrelated move.
5:39 PM
ā€œI must concede that your theory is probably correct. I suppose I won’t mind sharing some theories with you in the future.ā€ Sam.
5:40 PM
The guard is tackled, and the other guards in turn open fire on Sam. "Hey! This wasn't part of the deal!" Naomi.
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"They seem to have altered the deal. Hey, where did Johns go? I know now that you wanted to get your son, but what was his role? Was he paid to kidnap me?" I don't particularly mind the live gunfire.
5:44 PM
((screaming in an active war zone WHAT INFORMATION DO YOU HAVE REGARDING THE MYSTERY))
5:45 PM
"Wait, his name was Jackson, the guy said earlier. Him."
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Sam throws the fish at Sophie as well, then makes a half-hearted attempt to run away. This succeeds.
5:48 PM
Naomi and Sophie both run out of the room too, emptying all relevant NPCs,
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"Great. That just sort of happened. I mean I didn't even participate in that."
5:48 PM
((gordon left earlier right))
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((Yeah))
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((though theres still fucking Random Guards so im not quite alone))
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((Yeah))
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"Are you guys gonna chase after them?"
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They just kind of awkwardly nod and leave. (edited)
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((NOW im alone)) "Just you and me, Smith. I don't get the whole first name thing. Sorry if I outed you somehow? Anyway, this is annoying." I look around the cell CLOSELY i love zero escape
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Dana is currently in what appears to be a tiny prison cell. There are metal bars on each side, and an uncomfortable looking mattress. There is a small slot that seems to be used for delivering food. The room outside the cell has room for more stuff, and seems like some kind of storage room. There is also another cage the same supplies but with no one inside.
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"Shit. I'd ask for help, but I think any possible communication goes only one way. What to do..." I check under the mattress.
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Nothing.
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The small slot. I peep through that and check it more closely. CAN I fit a finger through
6:02 PM
kid named
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You can.
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This helps in no way.
6:03 PM
"Okay. What if. It just opens." I attempt to just open the door to the cell.
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It does not in fact open.
6:05 PM
"Having trouble there?" The smoking man entered the room.
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"It seems like they accidentally locked me in, yeah." I pretend to smile all nice.
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"Funny." He smirked.
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"Look man, I don't care what this is all about, everyone has already fucked off, can I leave? Failing that, can I take a piss? If someone needs to handcuff me again for the second thing I'll suck it up."
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"Funny enough, I don't much enjoy watching grown men piss themselves. Fine." He unlocked the cell. "Don't get cocky."
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"Thank you." Where the FUCK is the bathroom
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The guy brings you to the bathroom.
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"Alright, then. If you want to get out from here, it's up to you. Good luck, Senta--Sentasaurus. That's a bit of a mouthful. Maybe just go by Sent? I guess it depends on how attached to the dinosaur gimmick you are. Maybe you'll hear from this lost soul again." I look at the mirror.
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Dana woke up in her own body, back at Ariel's apartment. Ehn is standing next to her.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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"Dana! Finally! What happened?"
ā€¼ļø 1
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I scuttle away. ā€œAgh! Oh. I made an error in judgement.ā€ IS THE BOOK HER E
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Dana has the book.
10:33 PM
"Morning, Dana." Ehn.
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Great. ā€œI wrote a name I don’t know anyone who has as a test, assuming it would do nothing, but it turned out it worked. And that someone happened to be wearing a full body costume obscuring their face in a mirror, and I was also physically restrained… it was a whole thing.ā€
10:35 PM
ā€œI did confirm definitively that there are other people than us two who have manifested abilities. Anything to say on that, Ehn? I’m only asking for the sake of completeness, I don’t expect an answer.ā€
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She shrugged.
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"What I'm so sorry that's awful."
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"Anyway, I managed to get the codes for you Dana."
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ā€œWhat? How could you—actually, whatever, I wouldn’t be particularly interested even if you were willing to answer. That’s good. Of course, your eagerness to target this place specifically brings me very little confidence that it’ll be for our benefit, but I don’t really have any better options. What’s the codes, then?ā€
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Ehn gives some numbers yup. "Had to make a deal with a Maoziwam for this." She speaks with extreme disgust.
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ā€œWhat. The guy who owns the place?ā€
10:41 PM
ā€œIsn’t there a conflict of interest there to be wary of?ā€
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"No, his daughter. Or. His daughter's girlfriend I think?"
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ā€œGay peopleā€¦ā€ I nod sagely. ā€œOkay. Whatever. I’ll take it as a given they’re correct. Worst case scenario the guy I’m controlling fails to open a door.ā€
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"Sounds right."
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ā€œI want to take a quick stop somewhere first, but we can go forward with the heist right after.ā€ DOES AVENGARD HAVE A PUBLIC LIBRARY
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"I'm going to need you to explain to me what happened before in more detail too before we do anything else. I'm worried about you."
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I sigh. ā€œHave you ever heard of The Elusive Sentasaurus?ā€
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Avengard does have a public library.
šŸ”„ 1
11:01 PM
"You met him!?" Ehn.
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"I can't say I have"
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ā€œHe’s a streamer.ā€ I turn to Ehn. ā€œHow fascinating of a reaction. Are you a gamer, Ehn?ā€ I smirk. ā€œWhatever. I could work out your connection to him on my own anyway.ā€ I return to speaking to Ariel. ā€œHe was involved in some kind of a hostage exchange. With a kid named Kidink. That’s a large part of why I was stuck for so long in an unplanned excursion. My movements were being impeded.ā€ My expression brightens. ā€œBut, I mean, it’s fine, right? I’m always going to find a way out eventually, and whatever happens to the other body I’m in, up to and including death—though I’d obviously prefer to avoid that—it won’t do anything to me. The only things people can meaningfully hurt me with are the body I return to and the book that can be used to usurp me. And they’re still here, safe with you. We had a slip-up before, but that’s lesson learned, it won’t happen again.ā€
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"Yeah exactly, I want to ensure you're safe here which is why I never left your side, though I will admit it was a tad boring."
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"I would call you the world's most boring protagonist, but at least you’re no Sam Kidink."
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"Look I care about someone's safety and health which is more than a lot of people could say!"
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"You barely know her."
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"So? I care."
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"You ever think about a restraining order?" Ehn says this to Dana.
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I grimace in discomfort. ā€œI want to run more tests. I want to understand how this power works so I can use it effectively and securely. But if a poorly thought out one puts me in a dicey situation, that defeats the whole point. I won’t do something like that without properly explaining again.ā€ I sit back down. ā€œI don’t need to go to the library, I guess. I thought a public computer would be harder to trace, but the odds of anyone understanding the significance of what i do are basically non-existent.ā€ I am going to use twitter. ((I guess I will type this thing in #dana-craig to not interrupt this channel))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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The first thing I am going to do is look up the name ā€œKidinkā€ to see if there is any notable information. The second thing is this: I create a burner account with the @ lostsoul4141, and message the Elusive Sentasaurus Twitter account with the following text. ā€œAre you doing okay? Are you able to read this message? Please respond at your earliest convenience.
  • A Lost Soulā€
((for obvious real life reasons this will not be able to have a response right now but i send it and then put my phone away))
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Naomi Kidink is a criminal defence lawyer in Avengard. She is supposedly very good. This isn’t hard to find she advertises a fair amount.
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Heh. Irony…
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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ā€œIt’s for my best interest right now that she does stay close, Ehn.ā€ I say, slightly annoyed.
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"I’m just saying."
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ā€œAnd I am just providing feedback on your opinion. Another win for the marketplace of ideals.ā€
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"I prefer an auction of ideals."
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ā€œIs that like, one person states their opinion and all discussion centers around their opinion specifically? I feel like we’re still doing that.ā€
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"well I happen to believe that Dana is a good enough person who I want to help and that's good enough for me."
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((Dana Craig is a moral paragon.)) I put my phone away. ā€œIs there a specific time we should be doing this, or is it just whenever possible?ā€
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"As soon as possible, I’d say."
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ā€œFine. I’m going to get this over with. I’ll find a place to drop off the haul after taking it, and then as long as I make sure he’s incapacitated and unable to retrieve it himself, we should be able to take it from there.ā€ I open up the notebook.
11:51 PM
ā€œIf this takes more than three hours, you can assume something’s gone awry. Don’t panic; I’ll prioritize escaping and we’ll just have to give up on profiting here.ā€ If I’m not interrupted, I write down ā€œMats Rumenā€.
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((Channel split))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Mats Rumen is sitting in a shitty office. The chair is uncomfortable, the air smells like shit, and the whole room is cramped and filthy. He is currently in the middle of typing up a very angry email to Shuichi Maoziwam about idiotic coworkers.
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im going to stop participating now that im alone because I’m tired
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((Okay goodnight))
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((Saturday))
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yeah
6:51 PM
((Nathan Smith is the Renju Okiura of Dana Craig.))
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((this too sure))
6:59 PM
((going to kill samuel kidink next session))
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Dana Craig
yeah
((Funniest part of this is that you're already confused by Bob smith))
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((it’s more an indirect expectation of confusion my experience is some weird tweets and twenty other people saying this guy says insane shit and nothing else))
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Mats Rumen is sitting in a shitty office. The chair is uncomfortable, the air smells like shit, and the whole room is cramped and filthy. He is currently in the middle of typing up a very angry email to Shuichi Maoziwam about idiotic coworkers.
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Ah, he hates his job. Or his boss. That should make things easier. May as well take what I'm given and forge a motive. I finish the email the best I can with the context I have and send it.
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((Roll))
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((13))
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Dana does not exactly accurately mimic Rumen's writing style, but it’s probably not like Shuichi Maoziwam would notice.
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Awesome.
2:15 PM
Is this a cubicle sort of situation? Are there other people in the room I'm in?
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It’s kind of like cubicles yeah. The place is mostly empty right now.
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I'm going to check if Mats has a phone, and if it's the kind you need to enter a passcode to unlock.
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He has a phone. It opens with Face ID.
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pogggg
2:35 PM
I check where I am using whatever maps
2:35 PM
If it is not an important location i will permit you to just say yeah you know where you are
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You know where you are.
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Great.
2:39 PM
I'm going to head towards the storage facility in question (btw would the contents of the email have confirmed for me like yes he still fucking works there)
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((No))
2:41 PM
The first room of the storage facility is empty of people.
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Hm. It wouldn't be possible that I've been deceived in any way, right? Ehn had no way of knowing when specifically I'd decide to do this, and I doubt Ariel could betray me. This is the room that I snuck into the actual main hallway from as Kris, right
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Yeah.
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Also am I wearing fucking appropriate Guard Clothes right now. It does not matter because I am not changing just want to know I walk into that aforementioned main hallway, assuming I can do so.
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Kingsley is in the corridor with 2 teenagers in cheap halloween costumes. One is dressed like Batman, and the other a TMNT ripoff that looks like a beetle. Batman is holding a crowbar.
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ā€œNow what in the hell is going on here.ā€
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"We can probably do that, yeah. But like-" Beetle looks up at Dana.
2:52 PM
"Ah, sorry… I thought you weren’t coming back today." Kingsley.
2:53 PM
"We're... uh... Security." Beetle.
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ā€œMhm. That’s great.ā€ Superhero costumes… and one’s a beetle. This might be what… Jay was talking about. Which would make the other one… ā€œI’m just here to check over a few things for a report. The big boss has become increasingly paranoid, as have all the bosses in between.ā€ I roll my eyes to accentuate the point. ā€œIf they’ve really gone wild enough to recruit this as help, so be it. But if you’re actually here at an unscheduled time trying to do something not strictly legal, I’d prefer you not waste my time and admit it so we can get to shooting each other or you taking me hostage or whatever.ā€ I remember the vital information needed to impersonate Mats Rumen. ā€œBet this is just a fuckin’ diversity hire.ā€ I mutter under my breath, but still definitely loud enough for everyone to hear.
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"We're the most legal people of all. Isn't that right, bro?" Batman smirked.
3:04 PM
"Yeah, we're as legal as it gets." Beetle.
3:05 PM
"I hired them to defend the place after yesterday." Kingsley admitted.
3:07 PM
"We gotta discuss the terms of that. Hey wait, are you the person who shot the guy here yesterday?" Beetle.
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ā€œNo comment.ā€ This is because I don’t actually fucking know if I am, but it would be a reasonable thing to say if so. ā€œAnyway, is this… significant security upgrade warranted? The guy from the other day did nothing but wander around and die.ā€
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"Sorry, I guess I just..." Kingsley bit his lip. "We are pretty significant security upgrading. We'll make sure no supervillains come, isn't that right, bro?" Batman.
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ā€œSupervillains ain’t real, kid. Just criminal lowlifes and criminal lowlifes with other lowlifes working for ā€˜em.ā€
3:14 PM
I’m kind of owning at portraying what a cop sounds like. I could do this as a job, really.
3:15 PM
Or private guard. Whatever. I’ve already seen they’re the same.
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"Oh yeah? Is that so?" Batman confidently tears through a wall with his crowbar. It breaks apart like it was paper.
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ā€œWhat the fuck are you doing!?ā€ I reach for the place I might have a gun if I have one.
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Dana has a gun.
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Finally.
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ā€œHey hey hey calm down. We’re not enemies.ā€ Beetle.
3:21 PM
"Why not? He could be that collective unconscious thing." Batman.
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Me and my big fuckin’ mouth. I don’t pull my gun out, only hovering over its location. ā€œThis side isn’t supposed to be breaking through things, you know.ā€
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"Listen man, this is all just a misunderstanding. The cops are the good guys here. And besides, I think he's just misinformed." Beetle turns to the guard. "We're here to protect you guys against supervillains. And this sounds like a comic book, but I assure you, they're real"
3:26 PM
"Well I don't trust him." Batman protested.
3:27 PM
"We don't have to trust him to work with him." Beetle.
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ā€œI have seniority, so better learn to deal with me being here, Batman.ā€ I know his name is not Bat Man nor has anyone referred to him as this but I say it anyway.
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"We're all on the same side here, right? All we want is to protect whatever's in this building. Let's just work together on this." Beetle.
3:31 PM
"The name's Kite! Hero of justice extraordinaire! And you better remember before you try to belittle someone as awesome as me!" Batman.
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Yeah, that was it. Kite.
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"Yeah!" Beetle.
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Now, what should I do here? I don’t actually have a plan - I had two general options which I suppose still apply. There’s the quiet way — I feign being on their side, smuggle what I need, then leave with an excuse. This SEEMS safer, but not being ready to fight may make it easier for someone suspecting me to just take me out by surprise. I recognize thinking silently too long would be weird, so I ask a question. ā€œWhat, am I supposed to recognize that?ā€
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"Hell yeah you are!" Kite.
3:40 PM
"You will soon enough, anyway." Beetle.
3:41 PM
"I guess we never introduced ourselves. I'm S-I'm Beetle, and this is Kite. We're the Advent Guard." Beetle.
3:41 PM
"Experts in all things unnatural." Beetle.
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((I hate you so much.))
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"Hell of a good title drop, bro!" Kite tries to highfive Beetle.
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Now, the louder way, this has its own benefits. It’s already pretty obvious how I can act out this guy going joker mode, and it makes anything he says in defense less likely to be taken seriously. A simple motive. Open and shut case. The question is if the odds are against me. ā€œGreat. I would’ve thought I’d hear about someone doing whatever this is if it had been going on for some time. So you’re rookies at this, then?ā€
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Ehn/PC
"Hell of a good title drop, bro!" Kite tries to highfive Beetle.
They highfive yup.
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((this is fucking lego isn’t it))
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((Yeah lmao))
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((amazing))
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"Call it young pros." Kite smugly retorted.
3:46 PM
"Our names are already getting out there. Officer Kingsley reached out to us personally." Beetle.
3:47 PM
"Detective Scott recommended them." Kingsley.
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Kingsley is basically a non-factor, sorry to say. He’s hesitant even when I was not being at all subtle. It’s goofus and gallant over here that are the problem. ā€œScott? Really? Can’t say I agree with him on all too much, and he always played loose with how things are traditionally done, but he seemed a little more serious than this.ā€ I’m not acknowledging it as Mats, but something was clearly up with him breaking that wall, even aside from the fact that doing so is incomprehensible. I don’t want to be obsessively one-track minded, but literally choosing a random name has caused me to meet more people with paranormal abilities.
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"Yeah see! Even Detective Scott knows about us" Beetle.
3:51 PM
"Don't judge us by our outfits, we're the most serious people around!" Beetle.
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What could it be? Is it the reverse of Ariel; an ability to break through anything? That would be problematic, since hers definitely extends to the human body. And does the other guy have anything weird about him? Agh, I don’t want to feel like I’m getting caught up in their embarrassing superhero thing. But with someone else having the same experience I had, I could easily imagine them doing something dumb like this. Wait. I sigh.
3:52 PM
ā€œWhatever. I already work in a damn circus.ā€ Lucky that it’s not uncharacteristic for him to sigh. Anyway… Ehn, you son of a bitch! Or just bitch, I don’t know.
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"So what did you need to check out?" Kingsley.
3:55 PM
"Well, right now I think we should talk about the terms of this job. When do you want us here, how often, what are the hours, the pay, etc" Beetle.
3:56 PM
"Big issue is just we have daily lifes, yknow. Half of being a hero is managing your secret identity, right? But also we're not heros just so we can stand in/near a warehouse and make sure nobody enters or leaves. We're here to do justice" Shawn.
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Was this the only reason for this? Am I your patsy to get owned for these brats to have a power fantasy? …No. No, that can’t be it. Or if it is, I’ll make sure it isn’t. This… is a test. My trial. I will prove that I can succeed. I am worth my life and this path I have chosen. And I will return, clutching the severed heart unearthed from voyage into the belly of the beast. And I will look the trickster daemon, a lion in cheshires clothing, in its beady eyes and say: ā€œI lived, bitch.ā€ ā€œAh, yeah. You distracted me. You can deal with whatever negotiation this is, right? I’m gonna go to [[name of a vault I should have a way of referring to something around here from being given the codes right]]. Let me know if you need me, though clearly I’m secondary in expertise around here.ā€ I begin to trudge away, leaving behind the venom of my words. (edited)
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((It is 1 code for every keypad lmao))
4:02 PM
((Like, it's all the same))
4:02 PM
((Pinnacle of security))
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((so like. i just don’t fucking know what things are called okay. we can retcon that to just ā€œI’m gonna go.ā€ I guess?????))
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"Okay, bye..." Kingsley waved off the guy,
4:03 PM
((I already sent it and said "(one of the doors)"))
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((amazing so true))
4:04 PM
I do keep my word and go to one of the doors.
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Locked off by a simple keypad.
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I enter the code I was given.
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The door opens.
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I enter the door.
4:06 PM
Now we’re cooking with petrol indeed things are occurring quite
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The walls are lined with gold bars. In the middle of the room are 4 conveniently placed, easily transportable bags filled with diamonds.
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What the fuck.
4:08 PM
This has to be a set-up, right? It should just be like bills of cash.
4:09 PM
No, transporting was a big thing they talked about, which wouldn’t be a big deal with an asset like that, I don’t think.
4:09 PM
I guess I just don’t really know much about what I’m robbing. This is what’s normal, as far as my knowledge can confirm.
4:11 PM
Ideally I’d look at another room to confirm, but… Is the structure such that the three in the hallway would basically be able to see me immediately after exiting
4:12 PM
Don’t want to risk spending more time explaining what I’m doing. I get closer to fucking up the more I do that.
4:13 PM
Besides, even if literally everyone I’ve ever spoken to conspired against me, I literally just now chose a door at random. They’d have to set up every single room if I was getting tricked.
4:14 PM
It’s fine. I’m fine. At the moment.
4:18 PM
But these bags aren’t exactly the sort of thing I can just shoplift in my pockets. And… well, a lack of physical cash is a problem. How the fuck am I supposed to use a diamond? Even assuming I can steal this and get it to ā€˜me’ without a hitch or a trace, it’d be nothing but a worthless hunk of rock. I’m practical, not vain. A diamond would sell for a lot of money, certainly. But sell WHERE? This theft won’t go unnoticed. When they detain Mats — which they have to, or else we’re screwed — they’re going to notice he doesn’t have the stolen goods on him. Is a retail worker handing in vast riches she ā€˜found’ really not going to raise some questions? Fucking Christ, why do I never think of this shit before jumping???
4:20 PM
The ideal would be to find someone who doesn’t care if it was obtained illegally. But if I do that as Mats, I’ll probably end up accidentally leaving him in the middle. And if I do it as Dana, now I’ve exposed my main body to added risk. The whole point was that we’d avoid this.
4:21 PM
And doing it at all is out of the question. I don’t know what the fucking black market is! My only criminal connection is the man who tried to kill me.
4:24 PM
Ugh. Whatever. Honestly, I kinda just want to see what I can do. Even if the goods are impossible to retrieve or impossible to use once retrieved. Maybe I go back and get lucky and Ariel turns out to be a criminal mastermind. I really do need to get money… but there are other ways. I could make someone fucking PayPal me if I needed a last resort and they’d have no way to prove it wasn’t voluntary or at most a fugue state bout of hysteria.
4:28 PM
I shove a few diamonds in my pockets, however many I judge can remain inconspicuous. … Realistically, I only do want two or three. A keepsake. And it’d be way more possible to explain, if difficult. But is that really good enough? Is this my answer to this ā€˜test’?
4:35 PM
I made a point at the beginning that I wouldn’t be screwed over by my own hubris like the idiot of a fictional template that preceded me. But how hubristic can I get? I can die a thousand deaths and come out fine. Being a little gung-ho is nothing. I don’t even need to retrieve anything else. I’ll dump it in the fucking sewer, put it where the homeless can grab at it. Who cares? I just want to fuck shit up. I lean out the door and call out. ā€œKingsley, can I talk to you for a minute? I need to confirm my memory isn’t failing me. I also have a few questions — for only you — about these new hires.ā€ I look disdainful at the last bit.
4:36 PM
How physically fit is Mats Rumen, would you say?
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Definitely on the higher end, while everyone else in this building is on the lower end.
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Haha. Welcome to the boss battle, punks.
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"Coming!" Kingsley goes to him.
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I usher him into this vault. ā€œLook, I wasn’t going to push the issue in front of them and make it awkward. But this thing… it’s not real, right? It’s some crazy PR thing, or eccentric friends of Shuichi Maoziwam… like, we’re not actually entrusting important responsibilities to them, are we?ā€
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"Detective Scott says it's real. And like... You saw what he did to that wall, right?"
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ā€œTechnology moves faster than I can keep up.ā€ I sigh, and point to one of the bags. ā€œThey’re keeping it under wraps until confirmation or disconfirmation, since this is scandal material. But there’s some suspicion that one of these bags might have been tampered with. I checked over ā€˜em each once, it seemed all in order, [feasible number] in each like it should be. But I’m exhausted, and I’m sure he’ll feel better with more than just my confirmation. Could you make sure? Also could’ve been one replaced with a fake.ā€ The joke of this incredibly long and stupid lie is to get him to turn his back on me for a period of time.
4:50 PM
(I am NOT going to kill Kingsley don’t worry I would never <333)
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"Alright, but I've never actually seen the real ones."
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ā€œIt’ll be fine. It’s just for posterity, or whatever.ā€
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"Alright." He looked inside the bag. (edited)
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I pace briefly. ā€œKinda wild. That things have gotten so bad that they need to take such drastic measures. And the choice made. That, instead of saying anything to the guy who works harder than anyone else here, who singlehandedly stopped a robbery just yesterday like it was nothing, they find some trick-or-treaters.ā€ I hold my gun up to the back of his head and grab him. ā€œThanks for looking, kid. You helped me make up my mind with this nonsense. I’ve got a few more things to ask of you, okay?ā€
4:56 PM
Motive rant success. This is miles ahead of the Kris performance.
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Words catch in his throat, and he raises his hands in the air.
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ā€œYeah. I wanted to be civil, really. Thought maybe I could even get it through Shuichi’s thick skull that we have a personnel issue. But it’s obvious he’s only interested in making things worse. He’s got it out for guys who do their damn job. Another limp wristed liberal elite, just like his financial connections would suggest.ā€ Yes. Hell yes. Didn’t Alex Jones try to claim he was joking for the past decade in court? Any supernatural attempt at talking his way out of this is going to be so completely laughed off. I’m a genius. ā€œAnyway, guess that doesn’t matter too much from where you’re standing. You’ve been on the force for at least long enough to know what a hostage is, right?ā€ (edited)
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"...Yes."
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ā€œGood. That’s about all your part requires. Just so the super friends don’t get any funny ideas.ā€ I grab a bag with my other hand and bring both it and the Hostage Kingsley out into the hall.
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Kite and Beetle are talking in the other room.
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((is this. the room i just entered))
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((The corridor i mean.)) (edited)
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They sure are wrapped up in conversation.
5:14 PM
ā€œHey!ā€ I yell out to them. ā€œThere’s kinda something going on right now.ā€
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((This is just a lego thing theyve noticed)) (edited)
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((funny pretending to be idle yourself if i hadn’t realized it was him))
5:17 PM
((this is a cracked consequence of my story I didn’t anticipate i hope i meet every single other PC but none of them meet me))
5:17 PM
((besides ariel))
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((This is the tiermaker icon for "lost soul" lmao))
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Dana Craig BOT 8/20/2022 5:17 PM
((I can’t remember any other people who have met me! preview))
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Ehn/PC
((This is the tiermaker icon for "lost soul" lmao))
((???????????))
5:18 PM
((this seems so fuxking confusing but as long as whoever is using it remembers))
5:20 PM
((You seriously did convince me for a half second that I was Grizz Soniaquill like this was a spoiler alias you were using for aspects of my story I don’t do as Dana for some insane reason. I think this reveal would have killed me))
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((LMAO))
5:20 PM
((No you are not Grizz Soniaquill))
5:20 PM
((Just using him to fuck with people more))
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((Morbius have sex COULD be considered representative of Dana 1,))
5:23 PM
((wonder how i would have explained away after remembering I’ve seen in-universe Grizz Soniaquill tweets))
5:24 PM
((clearly time travel comes into play in this story at some point))
5:24 PM
((or just fucking. shitty uchikoshi twist the protagonist spent all extended periods of time we were not privy to in detail being Grizz Soniaquill and this never came up before the reveal))
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"a;ejfblwirufbgenlwitknelrkbfnc elrwiubgjn wlk.lemfdernofvklm," Beetle scrambles out of his resting state. "Kite, get ready!"
5:26 PM
"Told ya so! Intuition!" Kite.
šŸ‘ 1
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ā€œReady for what?ā€ I laugh. ā€œI’m ready to use my weapon, at least. Thought I’d show you bastards how unequipped you are for this job. So go ahead. What kind of heroes are you? A man’s life, or twice the price of his life in minerals?ā€
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"Let him go!" Beetle.
5:28 PM
"Very easily the minerals!" Kite.
5:29 PM
"Wait, no, hang on" Beetle.
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ā€œAh, damn. A tie.ā€
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"Are you with Collective Unconciousness?" Beetle.
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ā€œWhat the fuck are you talking about? Only guy I’ve ever ā€˜been with’ is Maoziwam, and look where that got me.ā€ I don’t want to drop the premise of becoming known as an entity, and it’s kind of nice that they recognize my existence. But I’m trying to make this something Mats did himself. More of that can come later.
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((Mats Rumen Maoziwam gay sex????))
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ā€œNot in a weird way!ā€ I panickedly clarify.
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"So you arent with the group? Then why do you want whats in the vault?" Beetle.
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ā€œā€anti-richā€ā€ sentiment (that doesn’t fundamentally oppose capitalism): check homophobia: check racism: possibly implied misogyny: any second now
5:38 PM
ā€œBecause I want money, moron. I’ll change my name, retire to some glamorous locale. Any legal problems can be wiped away with this, too. I’ll get what’s been cheated from me, and my old boss will get one hell of an annoyance in his [slur] ass. That one was to indicate he’s gay, but only him.ā€
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"Cheated from you?!" Beetle.
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ā€œI’m the backbone of this place, and they treat me and it like a joke. I don’t expect you to understand.ā€
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"You’re just a criminal! Me and my bro here are going to stop you!" Kite.
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ā€œDon’t lump me in with the petty bottomfeeders of this city!ā€ This character I’m playing is kind of incoherent. Hopefully it’s in a realistic enough way…?
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Dana Craig
ā€œI’m the backbone of this place, and they treat me and it like a joke. I don’t expect you to understand.ā€
"That's no excuse for threatening the life of a police officer!" Beetle.
5:52 PM
"You think you're better then them? Because what? No matter how you spin it, you're still using other people's assets for your own gain! You're no better then those bottom-feeders yourself!" Beetle absolutely DESTROYS hypothetical criminal Mats Rumen with facts and logic.
5:53 PM
"Yeah! What he said!" Kite.
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ā€œTch. Who cares? Like, what does it actually matter if your biased overemotional reasoning ā€˜proves’ I’m a bad guy? Moral posturing won’t stop a bullet.ā€
5:58 PM
I’m gonna start walking as opposed to talking.
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Beetle starts slowly walking towards Dana. Kite is following Beetle but in an over dramatic way as if he were leading.
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ā€œOh? You’re approaching me? Instead of backing off, you’re coming right towards me?ā€
6:01 PM
((I’m sorry.))
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"I can't Advent Guard you without getting any closer" Beetle.
6:05 PM
Beetle slows down as he gets closer, but he’s still moving.
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ā€œHmph. Then come as close as you like… if you’re ready to accept the consequences.ā€ Shit. I might not get out of this alright.
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"Wait… This is a really bad idea." Kingsley.
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Do I have it in me to kill Kingsley? For a fucking scheme I can’t even actually complete? I doubt it.
6:10 PM
ā€œIt was an impulse decision, maybe. But I’m not content to live kneeling.ā€
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Beetle stops when hes a few feet away from the Guard
6:16 PM
"Everyone knows who he is. Fighting him's not going to do anything except kill me. He’ll get caught either way." Kingsley is clearly not as confident as he claims.
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ā€œDon’t personally agree, but it’d be more convenient if you two did.ā€
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Kite charged in with an anime cry.
6:25 PM
"Oh fuck" Beetle.
6:26 PM
"Kite, wait!" Beetle.
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ā€œBluff called. You’re right. I won’t kill a cop. Just wanted to see if I could avoid dealing with two wimps without real jobs.ā€ I throw Kingsley to the side hard and attempt to shoot Kite.
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((Roll))
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im doing it here fuck uou
6:30 PM
!roll 1d20
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Dice Maiden BOT 8/20/2022 6:30 PM
Dana Craig Roll: [12] Result: 12
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It grazes him in the side and he falls over.
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ā€œMoron.ā€ I take the money and run take the money and run take the moneeeyyy
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Beetle tries to tackle you. Roll (edited)
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(( @Dana, Insolent Fool of Omelas ))
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((Oops))
6:51 PM
!roll 1d20
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Dice Maiden BOT 8/20/2022 6:51 PM
Dana Craig Roll: [7] Result: 7
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Preview
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Dana gets away.
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Amazing.
6:54 PM
So like. Did I walk here or does he have a car
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You walked here.
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Great. I’m going to continue to run.
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Where is she headed.
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I don’t fucking know. Some city streets.
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Dana is now at those city streets.
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I say ā€œfuck,ā€, spill the contents of the bag onto the ground, and keep running. My second scheme is to chuck the gems I kept in my pockets to the side into an alley I take note of the location of, while not actually looking at the fact that I’m doing this. If both of these to my knowledge occur, I will then wander around until I’m arrested, and leave the body just at that point, using a police car or somesuch.
7:06 PM
((I know this was like five different things lmao just didn’t want to waste time let me know if something interrupts any of this))
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Dana returned to her body at the apartment. ((End session))
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((heist succailure))
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((Will lego successfully deduce it was one of the two other players to roll today and which one…… suspense))
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((did you plan to have the NPC kite create a team called advent guard and that’s where the title comes from or at least is intentionally related in some chain of connections. or did lego name it fucking this really was an title of film))
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((No spoilers))
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((sad))
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lego using the tier maker to say this guard character is ASS you deserve to DIE for writing him atmey
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only commentary
10:23 PM
shawn is funny kite got shot by a gun
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((Sunday))
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Dana Craig awoke to Ariel and no one else. No Ehn. ((1984 gif)) (edited)
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / ariel-and-dana
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"Dana! How'd it go?"
8:09 PM
How long has it been?
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Like an hour.
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ā€œUh, it went okay! Except I didn’t get any money. So I guess we failed in that sense.ā€
8:14 PM
ā€œNone of it was in usable form. It was all gold and diamonds, the kind of thing you can’t just use.ā€
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"Damn. And how about them, did you leave any traces of doing it? do they suspect anything?"
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ā€œIt’s… complicated. I was so caught up in everything I nearly forgot to take anything. Some people are acting like faux-superheroes. Presumably more associates of our friend Ehn. Couldn’t figure out what they could do. And they briefly accused me of beingā€¦ā€ I pause to recall the term. ā€œAffiliated with ā€˜collective unconscious’? I don’t know if that’s a group or there’s something else going around causing people to act differently. But that’s something else to keep track of.ā€
8:21 PM
ā€œMats is absolutely getting arrested. But I fabricated enough of a motive that I think whatever he tries to explain will come across as bullshit.ā€
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"Is... did you hear anything about 'The Fungus'?"
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I make a weird grimace. ā€œNo. Just guys going by Beetle and Kite. The same ones Jay mentioned. What the hell is The Fungus?ā€
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"Apparently some homeless people were acting weird and talking about The Fungus, I read it on the news just now"
8:26 PM
"No idea what it is."
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ā€œProbably drugs, or something.ā€
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"Probably. I just thought it might be related." she taps her brain "Something causing people to act differently, y'know."
8:28 PM
"Couldn't find anything though to confirm it"
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ā€œStrange happenings all around. I hope being one of them will be enough to protect us.ā€
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((what time is it))
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About 6PM.
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"So, Dana, what do you say we go out for dinner, huh? As nice as this place is, and as interesting as these events are, we should take a break for our own sake."
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ā€œUh.ā€ What? What the fuck?
8:36 PM
ā€œWell,ā€ Are you kidding? Do you not get how weirdly loaded asking something like that is? And it’s not like we’ve reached a stopping point, either, the operation failed completely. It just doesn’t add up. ā€œYeah, sure. Sounds great.ā€
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"Alright. Uh. Where do you want to go? We don't really have a lot of money since we uh... didn't succeed but I think its important to take time off, and I bet you're hungry. I feel like I haven't eaten in days."
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ā€œJust somewhere quick. I feel like I’ve been away from my own home too long after letting someone stay there. Subway? It’s more of a lunch place, but I think there’s one nearby.ā€
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"Hell yeah, lets go to Subway." (edited)
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((Bro, you made the sandwich)) (edited)
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Ariel gets up and opens the door
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I follow.
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Ariel starts heading towards the Subway
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Yes. This is happening so much.
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Ariel and Dana at subway. what will they order
8:45 PM
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((fuck it lets go with my usual subway order))
8:46 PM
"I'll get an italian bmt please, no tomato, toasted, on herb bread."
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This happens.
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I am going to request a meatball sandwich, as the option available that feels the most like dinner.
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This also happens.
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"So. Tell me more about yourself. It occurs to me that I barely know you."
8:49 PM
ā€œā€¦I’m Dana Craig. There’s not much to say. I graduated highschool and this was the most impressive accomplishment in my life. Sometimes I tell jokes.ā€
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"Ooh, do you have any good ones?"
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ā€œMmm, usually it’s more sort of a riffing on conversation topics thing, wouldn’t be right to call it ā€˜jokes’. There was this good one I heard, let me rememberā€¦ā€
8:55 PM
I think for a moment. ā€œAlright, so once there was this guy who was talking to his grandfather. And the grandfather, well, he’s dead. A ghost. And this guy has some questions about that. So first, he asks ā€˜How long is a million years to a ghost?’. He’s a philosophical sort, y’see. And his grandpa answers that a million years is like a second to him. But his curiosity on the afterlife unsatiated, the man asks another question. ā€˜How much is a million dollars to a ghost?’ You know the old saying, you can’t take it with you and all that, well he wanted to know if that’s true, if wealth means anything after you pass on. And again, grandpa says that it’s ā€˜but one single cent to me’. Now, here’s the kicker. The grandson smiles all sly, his trap successfully laid. ā€˜Well then, gramps, how about lending me one of your cents?’. A genius inheritance scheme. And the grandfather thinks about this for a second, and smiles. ā€˜Sure thing. But can I get you to wait just a second?ā€™ā€ I look expectantly.
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"Hah, that's a pretty good one."
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ā€œYeah.ā€
Ehn/PC pinned a message to this channel. 8/28/2022 8:58 PM
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"As for me, not a whole lot you can say. I'm happy now, that's the important thing, most of my life before a year ago is something I'd rather forget. But as you can probably guess, I like pink."
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ā€œOkay. Fair enough. To being not much to write home about.ā€ Concluding this toast, I eat a sandwich.
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raises her sandwich and also eats it
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It’s a subway sandwich
šŸ˜‹ 1
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"I know its probably a bit of an awkward question, but where did you work?"
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I say the name of the convenience store that I, Dana Craig, worked at.
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"Mmmkay, I.... probably still have a job at the department store, even if I haven't shown up in days its probably fine probably"
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ā€œI never technically quit, I guess. I should probably do that tomorrow. Tell uh, her. That I’ve found work elsewhere.ā€
9:13 PM
I yawn. ā€œWell, that was nice. Good time was had by all, I’m pooped.ā€ I’m going to head back to my home.
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"I guess so huh." Ariel follows her since they live next door to each other
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ā€œI’ll be in touch, but I can’t be arsed to think of our next move right now.ā€
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"Yeah, neither can I. Let me know how it goes with uh, Grace? She's still staying at your place right? I tried knocking earlier but noone answered"
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ā€œYeah, she should still be there.ā€ I enter my apartment slash home or whatever
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((Channel split))
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Grace is in fact not here. Dana's apartment looks about normal.
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ā€œHuh.ā€ I’ll text Grace asking if things are okay. Won’t wait for a response or anything. Otherwise I’ll get out a regular notebook or piece of paper and begin jotting down notes.
9:24 PM
Dana Craig can own paper fuckyou
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I'll allow it
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I stare at the hastily scrawled simplified outline. This helps make things a lot easier to understand.
9:46 PM
No, it actually fucking doesn’t at all. This was a waste of time. I crumple it up and start over. A more linear record of things to keep in mind will do.
9:47 PM
Though, actually…
9:48 PM
I uncrumple it. I had forgotten about Belto in all of this. I have a good grasp on how the souljacking stuff works now, so I can say with reasonable certainty what happened.
9:50 PM
If he was asleep, I wouldn’t have experienced anything. No, that’s not quite right — I CAN’T hijack someone entirely while they’re asleep, since I’ll only be able to leave after they wake.
9:50 PM
Which means the president had a period where he was aware of his existence but his body moved out of his control. Should I be concerned by this?
9:51 PM
He’s kinda old, so would any odd occurrence be excused as his decaying body and mind? Ugh. I just don’t know whether I should be looking at the worst case scenario or not.
9:53 PM
I just need to keep this in mind. If anyones developed the ability to fucking track and doxx the use of magic, it’s the American government.
9:54 PM
Is it a coincidence that I keep running into people? Well, I mean, of course not. Obviously the heist was a setup by Ehn for some asinine reason.
9:55 PM
But I can’t see how the Sentasaurus thing could have been planned. I literally picked the first name that came to mind.
9:56 PM
Still, his last name was Smith, and the other part was tentative. Could it be that there’s a preset selection of people this can work on, and it ā€œautocorrectedā€ to whoever was closest?
9:56 PM
That wouldn’t explain the reaction to the name Nathan, though. You don’t just faint from someone being wrong about their name.
9:57 PM
Besides, there would be no reason for it to do that. I mean, I specifically tested the typos of Ariel.
9:57 PM
((ALL OF THIS IS CHARACTERIZATION. THERE WOULD NEVER BE A PLOT CHARACTER))
9:59 PM
The other thing to keep in mind is that I still ā€œoweā€ Ehn. The deeper I get in, the more uncomfortable I am with that favor. I won’t regret my decision, no matter what. I know it was right. But it would be nice if things went smoothly.
10:02 PM
And Angela. Angela! I don’t want to leave that alone. She was clearly acting suspicious that day. I don’t THINK she has it in her to kill someone… but I won’t turn my back on the truth. If I’m forced to corner her for her misdeeds, so be it.
10:04 PM
I can get information from her whenever next we speak. I thought it might be weird for our relationship that I stop working, or like, that it would just mean we never interact again. But it’s actually an opportunity. To interact with her on a level playing field, outside of the roles society demands of us. So I can solve the mystery, I mean. For Michelle’s sake.
10:07 PM
Grace… what’s up with her? If I’m being honest, there’s no part of me that feels optimistic about that situation. She came to me for help, spoke like she was terrified about someone, and then goes missing without a word later? It’s too obvious. This is Carolyn Blythe. I don’t know if Grace was just shirking payment for her or something, but it would be unusual for her to hide something like that from me. Like I’d give a shit. Maybe she was embarrassed she went to therapy?
10:08 PM
The therapist thing could be irrelevant. Just the day job of some criminal figure. But I also don’t want to spend too long on making up conspiracy theories about what is in all likelihood some random woman. Grace’s word is not gospel to me.
10:10 PM
But like, yeah. There’s nothing wrong with going to therapy. I think it’s nice, that people who need help can find someone. I mean it’s overpriced and futile in a world that crushes the weak like this one, but I can’t fault trying to do right if it comes from a place that reasonable.
10:11 PM
Maybe I’d understand more if I went. Like if I was that kind of person who needed it, instead of just a completely average girl.
10:12 PM
Well, I guess I have a sure fire way to check that Grace is alright. But I don’t know if I want to do that. Would be weird to take control of her and I may not be able to return easily. (edited)
10:13 PM
I could also technically check if Carolyn is with her right now, but again, same issue.
10:14 PM
I’ve tacitly admitted with the establishment of ā€˜Collective Unconscious’ as a distinct entity that I’m open to acting without Ariel’s knowledge or approval. But her support is still the ideal. I can lock my doors now that I know I’m alone in here, I guess. But what if someone broke in?
10:15 PM
That’s dumb, you’d be only slightly less screwed if that specific outcome happened with Ariel there. Does she look like she fights?
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((I like that Dana has still not collected the diamonds))
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((This is more important.))
10:16 PM
I should probably get the diamonds now? If I’m going to at all.
10:17 PM
Its a risk I’m uncertain about. But I should be able to scan for someone watching the alley. And if I get nothing from it, big whoop. The important thing is that doing it later is useless, since they’ll be infinitely less likely to remain.
10:18 PM
Compelled to action by an unexplainable force, I head to that location I took note of, keeping my guard up for any police activity.
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((Roll))
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((7)) 😰
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The diamonds are gone.
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I remember the last time this happened. Aaaand he’s right behind me isn’t he.
10:22 PM
I attempt to go back home alive .
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This happens. No one stops you or anything.
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Wow. Felt like a close call, at least. They wouldn’t have surveillance of a random street would they?
10:25 PM
Now, next moves… I really don’t know. Hopefully I’ll have some genius get rich quick scheme by the next time I talk to Ariel tomorrow afternoon or whatever. I check if Sentasaurus responded to my throwaway.
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He did not.
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Yeah, it’s only been like an hour. Also he may actually be dead, but anyway.
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It’s been much longer at this point but yeah
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I reconsider looking into the Carolyn/Grace situation, but still decide against it. I don’t even know if anything’s happened, she might have just been too rude to tell me when she left. Right? I… nrg. It’s not like I even care THAT much about Grace. But I’m still worried about being targeted myself.
10:31 PM
I could also check on the progress of the Michelle investigation, but I’d rather stay away from police for a bit. …I can explain what I’m doing to Ariel tomorrow if I decide to pursue this. She shouldn’t have any issue. But for now, I’ll leave it be. I’m assuming it’s quite late. If she’s not interrupted by anything in particular, Dana Craig (me) will spend the rest of the night gaming and then sleep.
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Dana finished the chapter. (edited)
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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5: Auspicious Guardian
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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As Dana wakes up, I don’t kick the covers off the bed at all, using only a fraction of my strength to slink out of it. It feels like this is the first time I’ve actually normally slept of my own volition in quite some time. It’s nice. Unless I don’t wake up in my room, which would be cause for concern.
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Dana wakes up in her bedroom the next day.
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Nice. After double checking my socials medias, in which there is probably nothing of note, I head out the door with my usual everyday items. The destination will be my workplace. Former workplace.
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Fritz Bachman is currently sweeping the store's floor with a broom.
2:07 PM
Nothing else is immediately apparent about the store.
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There we go. The old guy. Fritz Smith, or something. That’s the best option to be here. Maybe.
2:09 PM
…Out of people who are alive. I don’t know how to talk to this man.
2:11 PM
ā€œā€¦Morning? Is anyone else in today?ā€ Shit, I guess I ditched at a bad time. It was never exactly a thoroughly staffed location. Why should I fuckin care about that? It’s a god damn convenience store, it serves the function of getting kids who can fake an ID addicted to nicotine. No sweat off my back if it goes under.
2:13 PM
Oh, I got into a fucking gunfight. That’s a damn good excuse for an absence. Still quitting, though.
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"Ah, I'm afraid not. Angela has been unsuccessful at finding anyone willing to work in a place such as this, unfortunately."
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ā€œā€¦I see.ā€ I’d seem like such an asshole if I quit right as I heard that. Ugh. ā€œAnd she’s not here either?ā€
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"No, not yet. I can call her if you'd like."
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ā€œOh, uh, no, that’s fine. As long as someone hears. That… I’m going to be away from work for the next week. Sorry. Doctor’s orders to rest.ā€ I rub the shoulder I’m supposed to be wounded in to sell this terrible con job. Why am I apologizing? Denigrating myself to this old bald fuck? I don’t owe anyone anything. But I have to maintain amicable relations just in case.
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"I understand. We all think we need our rest, now and again."
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ā€œThanks. I’ll be right out.ā€ …Think?
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"Goodbye, Dana Craig." He smiled kindly.
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I text Ariel (we exchanged numbers, that never stopped being a thing that happened) the following:
Going to look into the Grace situation, starting with the therapist she mentioned. Let’s meet tonight.
I leave the store and look back at the Carolyn info online. Notably, the presence of an address or form for scheduling an appointment. Communication with Ariel will be key in securing my own safety in case I’m the next one to go missing. I don’t anticipate any problems for this specifically, but still. There should always be a good reason for if I’m holding back information from her.
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There is an address listed.
3:19 PM
Ariel is not online this session(shockingly) so pretend her response is in the catbox.
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Becoming Grace is not an option. I wouldn’t bet on it, and of course I don’t want it to be the case or anything, but I’ve already completely ruled out the prospect of risking using this on a dead person.
3:21 PM
And I’d get very little out of becoming Carolyn. I want to know what she knows, not where she is.
3:24 PM
I could use some random shmuck if I needed, but the most effective disguise here is probably just Dana Craig. I am aware that I have the external appearance and certain behaviors associated with mental illness. And if I choose a more direct conversational approach, there’s nothing suspicious about seeming concerned over someone who can be verified as an associate of mine.
3:24 PM
I head to the address.
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Dana arrived at the therapy office. No one is in the entrance.
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I find somewhere to sit in it regardless. Let’s see. Monday was the day it all started, the day everything was upended. I passed out of blood loss and woke up the next day. Tuesday was when I met Ariel. I left the hospital. I met… him. And I slept through the night as Howard. On Wednesday, when I finally regained control of my body, I talked with Ariel. Then…
3:32 PM
Well, I’m a little foggy on how much happened in that fucking dinosaur suit, but it seemed pretty late. Still, at most, it should be Friday right now. Still the workweek.
3:32 PM
Oh, and I don’t know if the old man would’ve been around if it was the weekend.
3:33 PM
I could also just… check the time. On my phone. I guess. I do that.
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Carolyn Blythe stepped out of her office.
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Not like I fucking know what hours are relevant, actually. Therapists charge a fortune, they can probably afford to work whenever is convenient for them.
3:37 PM
cereal2
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / carolyn-and-dana
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 3:40 PM
Carolyn approaches Dana "Hello there, I don't believe I've seen you here before. I'm Carolyn Blythe, I work as a therapist here. Are you here to see someone?"
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I wave. ā€œYeah, it would be you, actually. Are you free right now? Do I need to pay you for your time?ā€ Shit, why would you bring that up? I guess if worst comes to worst I can pretend to agree and then weasel out of it.
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 3:44 PM
"I'm not seeing any patients right now, so I am free, yes. As for payment, that depends. Are you here to receive therapy?"
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ā€œUh.ā€ Well, yeah, obviously it doesn’t qualify by any definition as that. ā€œNo. Not interested in that. Just need to ask a few questions.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 3:47 PM
"In that case I'm willing to help provide answers in any way I can. No price attached, of course."
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ā€œThank you.ā€ I smile, and roll my neck to crack it. In the sense of snapping joints like cracking your knuckles. Obviously I don’t spontaneously dislocate my skull. ā€œI guess I’ll start with the simplest. Do you know a woman named Grace Rollins?ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 3:53 PM
"Yes, she's one of my patients. Are you a friend of hers?"
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I pause. ā€œYes, that would be it. My name is Dana Craig. We’re acquainted, her and I. And that would be the relationship with you I’d guess. When was the last time you saw her? I assume it would be in this context, but knowing if you happened to see her at another location would also be fine.ā€ (edited)
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 4:00 PM
"Oh dear, I hope you asking this doesn't mean anything happened to her. She had an appointment here yesterday, early in the day."
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I smirk. ā€œI see. That makes some amount of sense.ā€ All as I could’ve guessed so far. Now where to go from here? Perhaps it’s more important to make my own motives known early on, and only then gather information. Elicit pity or discomfort. ā€œI don’t have any concrete proof something’s happened. Obviously then I would’ve gone to the police, not her therapist.ā€ Hah. ā€œAnd it’s not been long enough for any sort of missing person report. But I’m concerned.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 4:10 PM
"Right, I see. It's unfortunate, but I don't think there's much I can do to help you find her. Though if she's in danger, I certainly hope for her safe return as much as I'm sure you do."
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ā€œYeah.ā€ Eager to get me out of your hair, are you? I take on a more serious, solemn expression. ā€œIt’s not that I don’t sympathize with you. It’s codified by law, but client confidentiality is more than that. That sort of trust is the whole reason anything productive is possible; the ethos of your entire career. It’s like… a promise. The same sort of oath the more physical sort of doctor takes. You accept those with broken hearts and minds and perish the thought of abusing this state of vulnerability. As long as it doesn’t go to your head, I think that’s a very noble pursuit. A secularized form of some of the social functions served by a confessional.ā€
4:21 PM
I shake my head. What the fuck was that? ā€œI’m rambling. I just mean that I can’t fault you for holding back on relevant information. But really, do you think any of those motives apply here?ā€
4:23 PM
ā€œI’m not a policeman or the government. Just an interested party.ā€ I chuckle. And despite the lighthearted connotations most would attach to that word, my performance of the act could even be described as dark. ā€œAnd I have reason to believe you’re past the point of healing her.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 4:33 PM
Carolyn takes a deep breath before responding "I must apologize, I seem to have caused some confusion. You are correct that I cannot divulge too much about my sessions with Grace, but that wasn't what I meant. I simply don't have any information that I can offer you. You can feel free to doubt me, but it won't do you or Grace any good."
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ā€œI think we’re speaking past each other, yeah. I don’t like being dishonest, so I guess I’ll let you know my circumstances.ā€ I lean forward and put my hands together like thanos in that one gif.
4:38 PM
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ā€œYesterday I met Grace. Judging by what you’ve said, it would have to be after when you did. She asked me for shelter. To stay in my home. Without telling anyone, least of all you. Mentioned you by name, Ms. Blythe. Said some choice words. It was a really unusual event.ā€ Shit. Was that tipping my hand too much? ā€œObviously I don’t put too much stock into something like that. I just want to ensure she’s okay right now, and knowing if you somehow set her off could be a valuable clue. I did agree to protect her, after all. But you’re not obligated to respond to my pestering. I can stop bothering you, draw conclusions on my own time.ā€
4:47 PM
ā€œShe’s gone now. I think circumstances will be very bad for me if she really is missing or harmed. But I’m spiteful enough to make them quite inconvenient for you as well if you choose to be a hardass.ā€ Okay. Maybe not that far. ā€œNo offense.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 4:56 PM
"None taken, I understand this must be difficult. To feel like you've failed in a responsibility that someone asked of you... I do hope you're not beating yourself up over it. But I assure you, there's no reason to use threats, I place the safety of my patients above all else. As far as information, we had a fairly normal session yesterday, I know she has... something of a distaste for me, but there was nothing specific about our last session that I could point to as 'setting her off'."
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ā€œI see, I see. It’s a little unusual to pay money to talk to someone you dislike.ā€ She’s useless. Whatever she knows, I’m not going to find it like this. That’s as aggressive as I can get without going completely apeshit. Unless… it’s something that is only bad for Grace. I guess the police already fucking think I’m related to this, not like I can tank Dana Craig’s reputation with it. ā€œDid Grace have any connections to organized crime?ā€ I ask this normal question.
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 5:07 PM
Carolyn tilts her head in confusion "That's... an odd question. I don't have any reason to believe she was, but I can't give a definitive answer. Even with the promise of confidentiality, not every patient will fully open up about their life."
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Obviously no human alive would have an informative answer to that. But I guess I thought I might catch you off guard and sense an unnatural reaction? It was a pretty last-ditch effort. ā€œOkay. Thank you for all your help, really. I’m sorry for being so aggressive in pursuit of this. I need to get a little avant-garde to deal with all the nonsense that comes my way.ā€
5:15 PM
I get up to leave. ā€œSurely this is all some convoluted misunderstanding. But if it’s not, and you know who is targeting everyone in a vicinity of me, who turned a convenience store into a ghost town… you don’t need to tell me. Just tell them that they won’t be able to kill me. So they’d better not try.ā€ I wave without looking back.
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As Dana got up to leave, Grace just entered the room. Spotting Dana, her expression clearly grew extremely sour. She turned to Carolyn. "Can’t you follow simple instructions!?"
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ā€œWhat the fuck?ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 5:18 PM
Carolyn sighs "I... apologize. Ms. Craig here came to see me, I wasn't even aware of her, let alone your connection, until a few minutes ago. I didn't want to just tell her to leave, I hope you understand."
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I hold my head. ā€œFucking christ. I jumped to conclusions, I’ll own up to that. But don’t—do you not put the slightest consideration to what perspective others have?! You tell me some cryptic warning and then disappear with no notice or contact, does that not set off every alarm bell for like, a fuckin murder mystery?ā€ I sigh. ā€œI’m not even supposed to be here! I don’t know what you people have going on, and I’m not going to be called responsible for making it worse.ā€
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"Then get out, Dana! I didn’t ask for your help, and I don’t want it! Don’t you dare fucking lecture me!" Grace clutched her head.
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ā€œYou literally did! You interrupted my life and asked me to help you! That, to the letter, is the sequence of events that happened, you dense, overemotional jackass!ā€ I raise my hands to the air. ā€œI’m so sorry for extending the bare minimum of effort in keeping another person safe, for playing the role of a friend for one fucking morning, but I’m not being given a thousand dollars an hour to learn how to translate your stoned-ass non-committal mumbling into english!ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 5:33 PM
"It's good that you two are open about sharing these emotions with one another, but I do recommend trying to tone down on the insults. If you want to patch things up, it's best done in a more civil manner. I think it would be good for both of you to not damage a friendship over this. I certainly understand if you don't think you can be calm enough to address this at the moment, though."
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ā€œI hope you’re getting some advice a little better than this.ā€ I point cockily to accentuate my funny quip, as the man in the accompanying image.
5:40 PM
ā€œThis is the way of the world, Grace! Going closer into the life of another means they’ll do the same to you! Telling someone a secret tacitly accepts the risk of betrayal! You don’t have the ability to escape these consequences. Grow up!ā€
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"Ugh! Fuck off then! If you’re just going to insult me for trusting you, I’m just not going to trust you! What the hell else did you think I’d say!?"
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ā€œAh, what a terrible loss. Who will squat in my house now? I’m not desperate for emotional connection. You don’t see me doing this kind of shit. If I wanted to abuse your trust, I would have forced the issue of the event I need to know about, but I sat my ass down and did you a favor. You can’t make me feel guilt or something by saying you’re not doing that again.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 9/17/2022 5:51 PM
Carolyn motions towards the door "Ms. Craig, I think it would be best if you left. I understand you feel hurt, but this isn't productive for the healing of either of you. I'm sorry I can't offer more to help you work through this, but I must prioritize my patient."
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ā€œSure, that’s fine. Far be it from me to dwell on things.ā€ I’ll leave. ((when the character motivations conflict with what the player wants to see!))
5:53 PM
WOMEN.
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Grace just glared at Dana as she left.
6:00 PM
((Channel split.)) (edited)
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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I’m Dana Craig.
6:08 PM
Hope those two enjoy each other’s fuckin’ company.
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((Nooooooo fucjing way. Dana Craig in real life.)) (edited)
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Yeah, see? That’s what I’m saying.
6:10 PM
Today has been a complete failure.
6:10 PM
I didn’t quit my job. And she wasn’t even dead.
6:11 PM
Annoying.
6:12 PM
There must be something else to do. I could ask a random homeless person about The Fungus? But even if that wasn’t the dumbest fucking idea in existence, I’m not all that interested in the topic. It’s just some political thing.
6:13 PM
I still need money. That should be easier, really. I can do that as anybody.
6:14 PM
Mats Rumen took control of the entire room, gained information he wasn’t even trying to. I bet, if I didn’t pussy out, and if there wasn’t the dilemma of transferring the money, he would’ve gotten away with it.
6:15 PM
I hope that’s not the universally transferred property of Dana Craig. Failing.
6:17 PM
I wonder if I could eavesdrop on those two? I could easily eavesdrop on just one of the two, of course.
6:18 PM
But I don’t have any confidence in my success if I can’t tell what they’re talking about beforehand.
6:20 PM
The only thing that matters is Michelle’s death, and there’s really no guarantee Grace knows about that. I have no reason to care what their fucking problem with each other is.
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I wander nowhere in particular. I might not be able to walk around outside in this body again for a while. My life is at stake, and I lied about needing to stay home. (edited)
6:28 PM
Am I paranoid? Is there really anyone after me? I stare up at the sky.
6:31 PM
I guess it’s just sort of enticing. The cat and mouse game of being chased, taunting pursuers. Another bit from DN. But the loss condition is no laughing matter.
6:33 PM
The ideal balance is that people know me, but aren’t wary of Dana. That’s what I’ll aim for, eventually.
6:34 PM
I want to let this business about mafias and murders die down first.
6:34 PM
But can eventually become never?
6:34 PM
I was going to really stand up to Angela eventually.
6:35 PM
I was going to get a better job eventually.
6:35 PM
I was going to move out of relying on my parents finances eventually.
6:36 PM
I was going to try getting a degree eventually.
6:36 PM
I was going to start trying. Not today. No rush. But at some point.
6:38 PM
That’s why you can’t be alone, then. You think you need someone to force you to stop stagnating, lest you act at the last possible moment with a halfhearted progression of too little too late.
6:39 PM
Bull fucking shit. I don’t need to be motivated like a god damn kid. I’m acting. I don’t have a poor work ethic, I’m not just ā€˜lazy’. I made that whole chart yesterday!
6:41 PM
Being lonely doesn’t mean you want a parent, you disgusting fuckin’ creep.
6:42 PM
I’m taking things slowly because there is no precedent or clearly defined path forward here. I can ONLY fail by acting too rashly. This isn’t the same as being unemployed. (edited)
6:43 PM
…Is that why I can’t die, then? So there’s never a final deadline to finish before?
6:43 PM
This is absurd. Obviously nobody wants to die, that doesn’t require a justification.
6:46 PM
I take out my phone, and searching with quotes, check if there is a person named ā€œBelto Shelā€.
6:48 PM
((I’m sorry for forcing you to commit now on this potentially earth-shattering plot detail.))
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Belto Shel is not a real person.
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Good, good. I start heading home. I write ā€œBelto Shelā€ all the way in the corner of the first page of the book. One letter should be much faster. My last resort way out, assuming things work as I expect.
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((session can end when i reach home))
7:26 PM
((i did the two things i wanted yay))
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I was not stopping you from reaching home sorry for being unclear. Dana Craig can arrive home.
7:28 PM
((Just a bit more))
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((K))
7:32 PM
I’m arrive home. Presumably it’s not all that late in the day but wow that was exhausting.
7:37 PM
I’m going to check my phone Twitter etc just in case for one thing. Then for another thing [ARIEL DEPENDENT PARADOX RESPONSE]
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There’s a knock on the door.
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I slowly open the door.
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Howard Scott, with the smuggest grin imaginable, stood outside the door. He’s wearing sunglasses for some reason. "Ms. Dana Craig, if you don’t mind. Official police business. I’d like to speak with you about the murder of Mats Rumen."
7:57 PM
((Session end))
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(( 😰 ))
7:58 PM
(( THEY HAVE NOTHING ON ME. ))
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((Sunday if Ariel gets a makeup session. Otherwise none this week))
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((This isn't even true))
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((i wrote him. this is me. shut up))
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Ehn/PC
((Sunday if Ariel gets a makeup session. Otherwise none this week))
((this didnt happen i assume))
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((It did not))
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((No session))
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((I’m just saying. If you can contrive things right, Dana has already prepared for the possibility of permanently changing bodies,))
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((This would be a funny solution if it worked, but it unfortunately does not))
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((this is mostly a joke i presume this would cause way more problems))
8:50 PM
((yeah))
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i know my rights mr scott youre legally obligated to give me a month to prepare my response to your questioning
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((Sunday. Unless Sandra cancels her makeup session, but I’ll warn you in advance if that’s the case))
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Dana Craig
I could also check on the progress of the Michelle investigation, but I’d rather stay away from police for a bit. …I can explain what I’m doing to Ariel tomorrow if I decide to pursue this. She shouldn’t have any issue. But for now, I’ll leave it be. I’m assuming it’s quite late. If she’s not interrupted by anything in particular, Dana Craig (me) will spend the rest of the night gaming and then sleep.
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((True))
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And Atmey lied...
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Ehn/PC
((Sunday. Unless Sandra cancels her makeup session, but I’ll warn you in advance if that’s the case))
((so just sunday right.))
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((Saturday is ideal if you can make that))
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((i CAN and that is EASIER))
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anyway the crazy dana craig thing is its perspective on base human desires (SEX. HAVING SEX) and how the problem with society is that it prevents us from being feral animals and having sex and killing people all the time
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((TRUE))
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ā€œHuh?ā€
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Ariel May is standing behind him.
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What?
2:02 PM
No, she can’t have sold me out. If she had, she must have had the common sense to not show up in front of me. Unless she’s that confident…?
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"May I come in?" Howard.
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ā€œNo thanks.ā€ I exit my house. ā€œOut here is fine. It shouldn’t take long. I don’t have any information for you. Don’t even really know who that is.ā€
2:08 PM
I guess that could be problematic if Ariel somehow gave him the impression I do know who he is. But I can feign ignorance. Not like I remember every name I hear.
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Howard chuckled confidently. "Are you nervous?"
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I roll my eyes. ā€œFrom the presence of a police officer? Who would be? I feel real protected right now.ā€
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"Heh." He smiled, and pointed to his sunglasses. "Most reflective pair on the market. And I don’t plan to stop wearing them any time soon. You care to guess why?"
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ā€œI don’t know, you’ve become insecure about your eyes? This is turning out to be a really dumb conversation.ā€ How the hell could he know anything? This is obvious nonsense. What the fuck is going on?!
2:40 PM
I stare in confusion briefly at Ariel.
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Ariel just kind of shrugs. Howard drops the smug attitude. "Let’s skip the theatrics. I’ve gone through it too much to find any fun in it at this point." He motioned to his gun: "Worst case scenario, a brief suspension. You die, and I get a paid vacation. Sounds fine to me. You still wanna play dumb?"
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I pick up the slack in smugness, uncannily distorting my face smilularly as paranoia and adrenaline numb me to consequence. ā€œThat’s better. It’s a good line. Probably right, too. Was my storytelling last time that good? I can come up with plenty of false confessions if it’s for this guys murder. Much more specific than the earlier prompt.ā€
3:08 PM
ā€œYou got a thing for threatening young women with that? I’m flattered. It feels a little dirty not being your first, though.ā€ I glance over at Ariel, still trying and failing to gauge what the hell’s going on with that.
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Ariel jumps in between Dana and the gun. "There’s no need to get violent. You don’t have any proof." "True. But like I said, I wasn’t aiming for the courtroom." Howard puts his hand around his gun but leaves it there. "That’s option 1. My guess is you’ll prefer option 2."
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ā€œTch.ā€ Tch. Tch. ā€œWhat would that entail, then?ā€
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"Let’s say we both walk our separate ways, and you’re still free. My guess is, next thing you’ll do is take over the body of someone with access to me. My money's on Kingsley, but that doesn’t matter too much. You’ll get them to silence me, and then move on. Don’t be proud of that plan. If I die, all of my compiled evidence will be released. Next thing you know, we’ll be having a quick reunion in hell. So don’t try something cheap like that. I’m far more than some old man. I’m a cop."
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I laugh. ā€œI’d absolutely like to see that evidence, now that I’m getting a feel for what exactly you’re accusing me of. But I’m not quite curious enough to kill a man.ā€
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"Here’s what I’m offering." He placed his hand in his pocket, and dragged out one of the diamonds from the day before. "You can have me as an enemy, or you can have me as an ally."
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ā€œI’m not so sure there’s a difference. You ever hear the fable of the scorpion and the frog?ā€ I chuckle nervously. Maybe this is… no longer the time to escalate. ā€œBut I’m willing to put off whatever mutually assured destruction you think will happen. I’m partial to the resolution of this conversation where my skull stays intact.ā€
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"Smart." He smirks. "I’m not usually the first to stoop to this kind of criminal collusion, but I’m getting slightly desperate here. These diamonds you stole, you got any clue how much they’re worth?"
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ā€œI don’t know how much the thing you’re holding is worth, no. I assume quite a bit.ā€
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"You don’t have to play dumb." He shoves it back in his pocket. "But you’re right, quite a bit. You stole a whole bag, too, so I imagine that’d make a pretty big dent in anyone's bank, even Shuichi Maoziwam." He paused for a moment. "Maoziwam’s bank account more than doubled yesterday. Right the same hour you sent the police force into a frenzy, I might add."
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ā€œI guess it wasn’t very much of a loss to him, then. Are you suspicious of his earnings?ā€
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"Not really. He got them from Grobber Brentwood and Sean Niebel. Problem is that for him to pull off his stupid bank heist, he would have to know the police would get distracted by you that day. I mean… Bags of diamonds conveniently laid out, guarded by a single rookie cop. He laid it out purposely."
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"......" I don't want to give anything important up. But still... "...I agree. The incident is asinine. It is neither an effective way of storing money nor an effective way of taking it. Circumstances were set up entirely so that the absurd result could happen. And if you claim Maoziwam was able to benefit because of it, that more or less acts as confirmation."
4:17 PM
So is Ehn... his? Did he create it? Have I played into the ridiculous money-making scheme of some crazy billionaire?
4:18 PM
If my choices are to be a puppet to the state government or a puppet to an independent miser, I'd be tempted to do myself a fucking Marco Gould. But maybe I can thread this needle.
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"Maoziwam’s not the leader of this scheme, though. My money's on the butler." Howard takes out his phone and displays an image of Gus.
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"Okay." I don't recognize this man. "What are you after, then? He already succeeded, apparently."
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"This man was my old partner. There was an… Incident about a decade back. Now he’s a right hand man for the mafia. He’s also a corpse a few blocks off." His confident facade breaks apart momentarily. "I’m done being patient. I’ve got a lot of power as a cop, but you’ve clearly got some I lack. I won’t rest until I know the mastermind's dead and buried. Maybe a little after that if his grave's low on spit." He forces a chuckle. "In exchange, I can make these diamonds into useful money for you. Same for all your other money laundering needs, assuming I have the right read on your future endeavours. Sound fair?"
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This is obviously a terrible idea. But I'm essentially being held at gunpoint for it. The mastermind... does such a person still exist? Is it not just Maoziwam? I suppose it doesn't matter to me. If he's chasing a ghost, that just means I can use him for longer. He'd only bring up the money laundering instead of just "do what I say or you'll die and go to jail" if he believed he needed to. If he believed I had more leverage in negotiation. Which is good. Ariel might have sold me out, but she doesn't know everything about me, so he can't either. I'm an anomaly from his perspective. He knows I'm no God, but he also can't be certain of the exact limits of my abilities. After all, even I'm not certain of that. And for something like money laundering, that's a long term complex process. Aside from being something I need, it's not the sort of thing he could just be lying about to get me to do one thing for him. This would have to be a more lengthy partnership. Which means more time I don't die, more time the people who know about me stays constrained, more time to think of where to go from here. I always need more time. But I'll take a step forward now. "Fine. I'll cooperate. You're reasonable enough."
4:49 PM
This still leaves Ehn's 'favor'. If I have the network of allegiances right, that would be diametrically opposed. I'd be using Ehn's bestowed gift against the goals of its ally. Can it force me to cooperate if needed?
4:51 PM
Or no, maybe this is still something Ehn set up. Obviously those idiots at the storage location were people who Ehn had communicated with, so trying to simplify this to 'sides' is reductive. Just like they were meant to fail, maybe Howard is too.
4:51 PM
I'll break out. One day. Take every opportunity I can to understand what I'm breaking out of. Make a plan. Execute it. And then I'll be free.
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"Good. Niebel's MIA, so I can't give you an address or anything... But here." He hands you a piece of paper with an address. "This is Brentwood's. Find out why he was singled out, and why anyone would want something from him. That's all from me. …For now."
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"I don't know what you're actually talking about, but okay. I'll see what I can learn."
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He walks away a bit, before turning back. "...Actually, one last thing."
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"Mm?" This better not be some fuckin' gotcha.
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"The money laundering. I used some of your money to buy you 2 some businesses as a 'gift'. That's where you'll report it in your taxes."
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"I see."
5:08 PM
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"I figured it'd be funny to make the workplace 'personalized'. You may as well consider it a direct promotion from your current jobs."
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"Meaning...?"
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"I mean that you own that store now. The one I bought cigarettes from you at once. Feels like months ago now." Howard. "Does that mean-?" Ariel. "Yeah." Howard.
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ā€œOh. Okay.ā€ Weird.
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He leaves.
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Hm.
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"Is it true?" Ariel.
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I search the internet for ā€œGrobber Brentwoodā€.
5:32 PM
ā€œIs what true?ā€ I don’t look at her.
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Dana Craig
I search the internet for ā€œGrobber Brentwoodā€.
((Roll))
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((4))
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Nothing.
5:34 PM
"Did you kill him?"
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ā€œNo. That right there was the first I heard of him being dead. It must’ve happened after I left him. Dunno if the officer even really thinks I’m responsible for his death. It would look like a suicide if I was.ā€ I answer honestly.
5:38 PM
ā€œDid he talk with you about all this beforehand?ā€
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"Not much. He just said he wanted to talk to you. Oh, and he's also seen the brush."
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ā€œSo he has.ā€ Seeing is believing. Saying magic isn’t real won’t work on him. But that still doesn’t mean he has any real way to convince anyone else.
5:45 PM
I let out a deep sigh. ā€œAll that buildup and I’m tasked with doing something a regular fuckin’ police officer should be doing.ā€ I stare at the unhelpful search results. ā€œI don’t even understand who this guy is or how he’s relevant. Hell, even if I met up with him, what would I even say? I was just shown a picture of Gus, I don’t know who he is.ā€
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"Maybe there's more about him online?"
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ā€œHell if I know. Do you know his name?ā€
6:02 PM
jojo part 7 the emotes are the beginning. by the end of AG dana will speak like this
SPOILER
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"No."
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ā€œHmph.ā€ I stare at the address. ā€œWell, I don’t have anything else to do today.ā€ Social circle’s taken a huge hit lately.
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It is actually getting fairly late, for note.
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I guess I spent longer than I thought standing and staring at Howard between the time he introduced himself and the time we started conversing.
6:17 PM
ā€œIt can wait until tomorrow. Night.ā€ I halfheartedly wave to Ariel and return to my home.
6:21 PM
After entering my home, I sigh. I already got weirdly introspective earlier. Let’s skip losing it for tonight.
6:28 PM
It’s late, but I wouldn’t say quite late enough to just go to sleep. I’m not tired, at any rate. I boot up my computer. Frankly, even social media seems like too much right now. I’ve interacted with people enough. I could watch a movie? But I haven’t heard of anything good lately. I gamed yesterday, but that was in a bit of an haze, and I’m certainly not bored of it. I start up old reliable, the infinitely replayable roguelike: The Binding of Eric. (edited)
6:29 PM
Or is it roguelite? I can never keep track of the stupid pedantry. Even roguelike is already implying some deviation from the norm, something it merely RESEMBLES rather than BEING. A facsimile of… what? What the fuck is a pure Rogue game?
6:30 PM
I play as, of course, Eric. I smirk in anticipation seeing that I’ve rolled the shotgun as my starting item. I’m a versed enough gamer to know how lucky this is.
6:36 PM
This allows for easy domination over earlier floors. Suboptimal play means i both take too much time and too much damage to be able to activate the force quit button sequence, though, so I opt to go Q path. As is standard, Eric goes from a silent protagonist to someone who gradually never fucking stops talking as the run progresses. A lot of people mute voices after their first few times playing the game, but I’d consider that a cowards way out. You might as well just enable invincibility. It’s an intentional and thoughtful part of the games design; items like the Temporal Ass Pain are completely broken without sound making parsing the information more difficult. Besides, Keith Silverstein is a treasure. He puts his entire heart and soul into the role. In playing, I truly feel like I am Eric. I gain an understanding for all consuming rage towards children, and lust towards women. His is a tragic tale; a child raised without love in a home where his one comfort in life died without him being able to do anything.
6:39 PM
A blind item I pick up winds up being the Collar That Is Going To Explode And Kill You In Two Minutes. I curse under my breath. Of course. Luck like this never holds forever. There’s no way that’s enough time. Do I just reset? No. I gotta see this through. Maybe… I throw caution to the wind. I take a ton of contact damage from bumping into a bunch of pretentious assholes in gas masks, but by this point, I have enough health to tank it.
6:43 PM
At last, I reach the room for the final boss, [SPOILER]. The community calls him Spoilus. The giant amorphous black mass censoring the appearance of the mastermind of Zero Time Dilemma attempts to rip me (Eric) asunder using its copious tendrils. Freud weeps. But I know these attack patterns like the back of my hand. It’s just a matter of time. I’m… not going to make it. I have 15 seconds left and it just entered an invulnerable phase. I shake my head. How to go out onto my own terms? Is it to fight as long as I can, or actively choose my demise? …There’s only so much time to decide. I run into the abyss. Eric dies, and a haunting music box plays beneath the minimalist game over screen.
6:43 PM
This is the most important thing I’ve done all day.
6:46 PM
I don’t have another run in me today. I stand uncomfortably in a cold shower for several minutes, coping with my failure. It’s really not that big of a deal, honestly. I just would rather dwell on my gamer mistakes. Presumably, this isn’t the only time I’ve exercised personal hygiene in the past week, but it’s important to note only now for the purpose of setting the scene. Marginally less gross looking, I collapse into bed. Sleep follows soon after.
6:46 PM
Dana finishes the chapter.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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6: Altered Grounds
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana woke up in her bed the next morning.
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Great.
2:07 PM
It would be concerning if I woke up anywhere else.
2:07 PM
I idly check my phone as I get dressed and ready for the day.
2:09 PM
I text Ariel, who I now have the number of that never stopped being a thing that was true, asking if she's awake.
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She answers: 'Yes! Good morning.'
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Yesterday... was weird. Yet I don't have any reason to think she actually sold me out. The most likely scenario is that she's not particularly clever. I can count her as an ally for now... right? I respond "Do you have plans for today?"
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'We were supposed to talk to that guy, right? Other than that, my day is fully open. I can make plenty of time for you.'
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Yes... Brentwood Grobber. Or something. A man I know nothing about. And yet I know where he lives, and I need to go there. Lest I fall victim to vague blackmail.
2:25 PM
For Carolyn Blythe, I was most suitable to go as Dana Craig. But this meeting would have a direct line to my criminal activity, right? And I certainly don't know what this man is capable of.
2:27 PM
...In Death Note, whenever he needed to kill people for a reason other than their deaths, like sending a message, or establishing an alibi, he went with death row criminals. The worst people you could think of, doomed anyway. But I can't do that. If my target's movement is restricted, my movement is restricted.
2:28 PM
Would Ariel be willing to... I shake my head. That's a dumb idea. Anything incriminating for her is just as incriminating for me.
2:30 PM
Well, there's no harm in tried and true methods, right? I can just lie.
2:30 PM
But does he know I'm coming? If he knows Dana Craig is showing up, this would be pointless.
2:34 PM
I wish I had a mask. Something to fully obscure my face. I don't like going out unprotected like this.
2:36 PM
I text Ariel. "I don't know enough about this man to decide how to deal with him. I'll let you know when I figure out what to do."
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'Okay.'
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I'm going to go to Walmart to try to purchase a filtered gas mask. ((I'm fucking sorry.))
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This happens.
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Am I able to gauge much from the address? Does it seem to be a house or in an apartment?
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It's a house in Shelk.
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Oh yeah there's a city named Shelk.
2:43 PM
I was a little worried about this idea, but I don't care if I look cringe in front of a fuckin' bougie. I utilize transport to go to Shelk. No time like the present. To get this over with. I'm pretty sure there's nothing I'm forgetting.
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As Dana heads towards the subway, a white windowless fan screeches to a halt on the road beside her. 3 unfamiliar men jump out of the vehicle, and run toward Dana.
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Oh, my pocketknife. That's what I forgot. Fuck. I should just make that something I carry around by default from now on, actually. I run in the direction opposite the fan (sic) and fumble through my pockets for my pepper spray. Good of a weapon as I'm gonna get.
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((Roll))
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((16))
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Dana is grabbed by the men, and pulled into the van. Inside the vehicle are a few people, 2 of which Dana would recognize.
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I scream the entire time.
3:00 PM
"What the hell are you doing?!"
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They shut the doors, and start driving. "Morning, Dana Craig. Sure hope you slept well." His voice is lined with sarcasm.
3:06 PM
I hold onto the gas mask. "Well enough."
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((What PC))
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"Is this a hostage thing? You're not getting money from anyone for me, I swear."
3:08 PM
((not only as in the only one but as in only kind of active (swiggle is at Yale ) ))
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"No, no... This is personal" The smoking man approaches her. "The name's Jeff Johnner. You ever heard of me?"
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"Obviously I haven't heard of that name you just made up, but I also don't recognize you, so no."
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He laughed lightly before punching her in the face. "Wrong answer." He put out his cigarette. "See, I'm kind of a big deal around here. The big man of crime. Or, his messiah in most cases. Point is, it's not a very smart idea to go angering me."
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"Ngh. I'll... keep that in mind." I attempt to put on the fucking gas mask.
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"See... Say, killing a good friend of mine like Marco Gould. That'd be what you call a bad idea. You following?"
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Marco Gould had friends???
3:23 PM
There's no real point lying to this man. I am unambiguously suspect in Gould's death. "...I'd be very interested to know what leads a close friend of the messiah himself to try to stick up a 7-11. I don't suppose you only help those who help themselves?" I too late reconsider being a bitch about this.
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He just hits her with his knee. "Quite a mouth on you, huh? Are your self-preservation skills that shitty or are you asking to die." He leaned in close to her. "'Cause if it's the latter, no need to worry. You won't have to wait long."
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I chuckle. "Self-preservation, hm? That's all about information control. For example, instead of being honest like an imbecile. give someone you're going to kill false hope. So they don't act as rashly thinking it's their last chance. Proverb I heard once. Very mystical and wise. A cornered rat will bite the cat." I would hope I managed to put the gas mask on. But regardless of if I did or not, I muster all of my reflexes to pull out the pepper spray. In this enclosed space, I hold down to release it, and do not stop.
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Nothing comes out.
3:38 PM
Johnner grabs it, unimpressed. "I'm not in the business of being frightened by dogs."
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"Un-fucking-believable. This is the lamest death possible, you know. At least you could've saved me the trouble and run me over. Now we're here mixing up animal metaphors." I'm not going to die. Who is this? Jack Johnner? A joke of a name. A man who counts himself as a king among worms? My hate will make itself manifest. I will birth into the world a new avenue for my survival. When I'm good and ready, when I've won glory and honor for myself, then maybe I'll slip up and be given my payback. But not here. Not now. Not like this. Not him. "It's funny. The last guy who threatened to kill me didn't seem frightened, either. But at the end, I think he might've been. Maybe if you're better than him, you'll come out of this only needing a rabies shot."
3:46 PM
The notebook. I... I don't want to fucking become Belto Shelk. But if the alternative is death, I'll take what I can get. I just... will wait until it's clear how they plan to kill me to make my move. See if I can find a good time. They're probably more wary of my movements right now.
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He punches her again." I'm tired of jokes." He places the spray in his pocket. "Let's be forward. Take out Marco, I can take it. Boss says to shut up and let you be, I listen. But you just had to take out Gus too, didn't you? Now that... That's a step too far, I'm afraid."
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I take a moment to recover from the blow. "...Who the fuck is Gus?"
3:51 PM
"I killed Marco Gould. He tried to mess with me so I blew his brains out in an alleyway. There's the confession the police couldn't get. But I have no idea what else you're saying I did."
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He just hits her again. "I don't need your confession. Not a cop. Not that... A cop would care either. Point is, it's personal. Very personal. So I'm gonna enjoy taking this slowly."
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Jack--no, it was Jeff Johnner. Instead of the last resort, I can kill him if I get a chance to use the book. But there's other people in the car. I need him alone. Or at least at a distance from the others. I hope to god he wasn't lying about that name. Taking it slowly is perfect. I'm bound to have a chance eventually. Your pride... it will be the end of you. After that, I can try to escape. And if I fail at that, then it's Shelk. But the pain is starting to accumulate. I won't be able to think clearly if he keeps getting extraneous hits in. I need to stop talking. "...................." I can't think of a clever way to word the accusation of this being a fetish thing, anyway. So whatever.
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"Nothing to say? No retorts? Come on, you’re boring me here." He hits her again. "Tell you what. If you can hit me with a powerful enough apology, really make my tears start flowing, I’ll let you go right here. End of story. Doesn’t that sound nice?"
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"You said you were tired of jokes. They tend to be all I have." I sigh. "Sorry you were friends with the guy I killed. I did it to survive. It would've been me if it wasn't him. Just another decision in the rat race. Surely I'm blameless for doing what it takes to continue living. And the other one..." "I didn’t kill Gus. I didn’t meet Gus. I didn’t put a weapon or fist anywhere near Gus. I’ve never known anyone named Gus. I promised myself I wasn’t going to make apology posts for my actions after last year's thing so I’m just trying to be as short and honest with this as possible." I turn to him and pretend to smile all nice. "Is that wholesome enough? Do you want me to debase myself further, milord?"
4:13 PM
Oh shit I'm doing it again.
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He laughs. "By god, you actually tried there a bit. I’m almost impressed at your idiocy. But see… I obviously wasn’t going to let a girl like you live." He takes out a gun and shoots Dana in the leg.
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It's real it's real it's real it's real it's real it's real it's real it's real I write the last k on Belto Shelk in the book, and keep going after that (assuming i'm able to, I'm prepared to do so is the point), writing Jeff Johnner.
4:23 PM
((Do I ROLL))
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((Yeah))
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(( šŸ™ƒ ))
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This fails. The van suddenly screeches to a halt, and everyone in the back is thrown forward.
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"Agh!"
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"Everybody out of the car!" The familiar voice of Johnathan Kingsley calls out from outside.
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I scramble to hide my notebook if I actually pulled it out. Hopefully I failed enough to not get that far though. I take off the stupid fucking gas mask that failed and attempt to limp out of the vehicle. This is happening way too often.
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Some of the mobsters stop Dana from leaving. Johnner is the only one to actually exit. "What's the matter, office? You seem parked a little weird." "I said everybody out." Kingsley. "Who am I missing?" Johnner. "I want to see... Uh... Daniel Craig." Kingsley. "Who?" Johnner. "Um... The uh... Girl you kidnapped." Kingsley. The mobsters finally drag her out of the car.
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"Hello, I'm the Craig in question. It's nice to meet you. These fucking guys have been... less hospitable than I'd like."
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"We're just messing around. She's here entirely of her own will, isn't that right?" Johnner stands casually in the middle of all this, lighting another cigarette. "I saw you do it. So... Let her go." Kingsley slowly takes out his gun.
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I can't trust Kingsley. Police aren't on my side. But still, he's not going to kill me. It's an upgrade. I sort of stumble over, on account of the new leg wound. Attempting anything daring would be a bad idea like this. Just let this resolve itself. "I don't--I don't care what happens to them. I need--" Well, no, I don't need medical attention. I'm lucky in that regard. "--to make a call." I attempt to take out my phone.
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The mobster guys hold onto Dana and do not let her walk into the middle of this.
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ā€œI’m obviously not here by my own will, if that wasn’t clear. I think you get that, though.ā€ Love losing blood. It’s a great pastime. Hey does Ariel’s thing? Fix this? Or does it just seal up the wound? Am I gonna get… armeni..anemo…amemia? This is… this is why you don’t go outside.
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"Let her go!" Kingsley. "Or what?" Johnner. "Or I arrest you!" Kingsley. "Do you have even the slightest idea who I am?" Johnner.
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ā€œHe’s Jeff Johnner, dumbest name in the west. He’ll be more than capable of whining about things you didn’t do, watch out.ā€ I attempt to hock a loogie at one of the men restraining me. ā€œIf this is some police corruption thing, I would like it much more if you chose to be corrupt by shooting first!ā€
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"I'm not... I'm not corrupt!" Kingsley. "Easy, kid. The point is, I have the power of the lord himself on my side." Johnner got close to Kingsley, unfazed by the gun. "I have the government! And as detective James says, even the most powerful gods bow to the rules!" Kingsley. Johnner bursts out laughing.
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ā€œThe lord? Jesus! He might be naive, Jeff, but you’re downright delusional. Let me say this now, so you’ve heard at least one person be honest with you in your life. You’re not winning because of divine will, you’re winning because you’ve collected a bunch of worthless no-name sycophants, attracted to whatever power promised by working with you. That’s not god. It’s instinct. And you’re not a prophet for managing to get people who actually do have worth. You’re fucking middle management.ā€
5:11 PM
ā€œI’m glad you kidnapped me. Better you than my 20-something manager at a corner store. She might’ve stood half a chance of being intimidating!ā€
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Johnner smirks turning back to Dana. "It's surprising how many people don't get it. God my boss. The one and only. Walking among us." "Don't look away from me!" Kingsley. "No one cares, kid." Johnner. "I'll shoot you!" Kingsley.
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ā€œThere’s only one way to prove him wrong, officer! What the hell’s a threat you won’t follow through on?!ā€
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"Yeah come on, shoot me." Johnner. "Shoot me, or she gets it." Dana feels a gun be pressed to the back of her head. "I can shoot!" Kingsley. "Then do it!" Johnner. "Come on!" "I can-" Kingsley, with shaking hands, shoots the ground. "See? That was a warning shot! The next one's gonna be real!"
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ā€œā€¦Kingsley, right? If you don’t act, you’ll die here. My blood on your hands. Whatever person is capable of living on after that isn’t you. But if it is, shoot me your own damn self. I’ve waited for the conclusion long enough.ā€
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This freaks Kingsley out more. "...Underwhelming." Johnner. "Alright, Gordon, kill her, someone kill this guy bef-" Johnner. Kingsley let out an intense scream, and fired at Johnner.
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I tense up and try to use all my energy to break free so I don’t fucking die!!
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It barely misses. "Wh-What?" Kingsley "Whoops." Johnner turns around and shoots Kingsley in the chest. This surprises Gordon, giving Dana an opening to run.
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I’m fucking booking it.
5:28 PM
And I know Johnner has his own gun now. The ending is clear.
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"Hey, you bitch! Get back here! You've got nothing protecting you anymore!" Johnner aims his gun at Dana, but the next bang doesn't come from his gun. The jammed pepper spray in his pocket, struck by a bullet, explodes sending him flying through the air, before making him hit the truck and crumple up into a pile.
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…I listen to his request. I look back. Does he seem injured enough to be immobilized?
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He seems unconscious. Gordon and the other mobsters rush him into the van. Gordon specifically gives you a thumbs up as he does this, for some reason.
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:gordonthumbsup:
5:34 PM
And Kingsley? He probably isn’t doing too great.
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Kingsley has already passed out.
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I stare at Kingsley. An utterly pathetic man. He can’t accept the reality of his world. Again and again and again. And he keeps showing up in my life. Even when ordered by a superior, he couldn’t kill Kris. Even when he tried to protect some location, he was a failure by design. Even when law enforcement arrived, I would be dead, if not for a stroke of luck. And he… he should definitely be dead! I’m a fucking cashier! I’m a woman who works a who-gives-a-shit job and I’ve been in more life threatening situations than anyone reasonably is! I’m not someone who is SUPPOSED to be risking their life on the regular! He’s so fucking infuriating! …But he doesn’t know anything about me. Probably. And odds are he’s already communicated with his buddies about this operation, so if I’m the only one from this event alive and well, that’d be incredibly suspect. And he did shoot. Fuckin’ finally, but he did it. Maybe there’s hope for him. I call Ariel and tell her my current location as best as I can approximate. Say it’s urgent. (edited)
5:43 PM
Chivalry is dead. And I’m bleeding out.
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The van speeds off. Not long after, Ariel arrives.
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ā€œHey.ā€
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She sees your wound and immediately heals it with the brush.
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ā€œā€¦T-Thanks. This guys pretty messed up too. Would probably be bad if he died. Can you heal him without waking him up?ā€ Gesturing to Kingsley, obviously. (edited)
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"I have no idea." She admitted, before healing him as well.
5:55 PM
Kingsley does not wake up.
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I sigh. ā€œI don’t think I’ll be bothered again today. The head honcho will be out of commission for at least a few hours, and his goons will take some time to recoup. So I still want to get this Grobber thing over with. But after that, I’m… I don’t want this to keep happening.ā€ Just in case, I’m going to try to take Kingsley’s gun.
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This happens.
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ā€œI’ll learn what’s going on. And then I’ll go home and lock my damn doors.ā€ I turn to Ariel. ā€œWhat about you?ā€
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"Well, 2 people together are probably safer than 1 alone, right?"
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ā€œI… yeah, that’s true.ā€ I don’t have any good way to rebut her. The gas mask idea was stupid anyway. I’ll find a use for it later. Perhaps we can head now to Shelk.
6:08 PM
I’ve not fucking forgotten about you, Johnner. But I need you able bodied to kill you. I’m looking forward to it.
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They arrive at the listed address. It is a really big house.
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ā€œI’m going to claim to be a private investigator. Easier summary of why I’m there. If he asks, you can also be affiliated with that sort of cover story.ā€ I mention off-handedly to Ariel. I’ve dressed in accordance with this plan, but with Dana Craig’s wardrobe this just means the least casual casual wear available. It isn’t exactly a disguise.
6:14 PM
I knock on the door. Or ring the doorbell. Better be rich enough to afford one of those.
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No response.
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I double check the address. I know it’s the right fucking address, but just as a formality.
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It is the right address yeah.
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I sigh. After all this, it’s not even… I ring the doorbell seven more fucking times.
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Nothing.
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I sit down, slumped, on the porch or what-have-you. ā€œā€¦Ariel.ā€
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"Yes, Dana?"
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ā€œWhat are we doing?ā€
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"Waiting for that guy."
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ā€œI mean, I know, it’s just… it was rhetorical.ā€ I waited way too long for an answer to a rhetorical question. ā€œBut tracing all of this back… I just wanted money. I wanted enough to make a living and do what I wanted without being driven to stab myself from the psychological warfare of retail.ā€ I rest my head on my crossed arms. ā€œSo is this just the inevitable thing that happens? It’s either die slowly in the machine, or probably much faster out of it? Caught up in some asinine mafia plot, in the irrational revenge drive of a loose cannon cop, doing errands where you don’t even know what the fuck they are? And if this dichotomy isn’t set in stone… where did we screw up?ā€
6:32 PM
ā€œI’m not going to bemoan my fate, or whatever. Ehn didn’t teach me to be careful what I wished for, and value what I had in life. I feel alive, Ariel. I’m better now than I’ve been in years. But… that’s the worst part, I guess.ā€
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"I feel alive with you too."
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My expression shifts uncomfortably at this response. ā€œHave you ever seen Firefly? The 2002 television series, not the bug.ā€
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"No, I don't think so."
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ā€œIt’s the worst fucking show I’ve ever seen. And I mean, it really isn’t. I watched that fuckin’ reality show where people compete to be a rapper’s wife. But this one—it was beautiful. All sci-fi is kind of fascinating, but even just on an aesthetic level, Firefly resonated with me. It realized that even in the future, people will still be people, and their lives will still be dominated by that fact. And it has a lot of compelling plot intrigue. So it finally makes me feel something, and then it ends. You see w— what Iā€¦ā€ I shake my head. ā€œAnd the worst part is, of course I knew. I was a dumb little kid for those months it actually aired, this was watching years after it got cancelled. I set myself up for disappointment and got it. What was the use of doing that?ā€
6:41 PM
((I haven’t fucking seen this show.))
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"Are you saying you’re going to be disappointed by something?"
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ā€œI’m saying I already am. I don’t know any of these people! Why should I fucking care about anything done by the Maoziwam family? Who the hell is Brentwood Grobber? Sean Niebel? Kidink? Fucking Jeff Johnner??? I mean, even you, my one and only ally and friend in all this. We basically first spoke a week ago.ā€ I stand back up and pace around a little. ā€œAnd it’s not like I care that I don’t care. Go ahead, give me a bunch of random names to keep in mind. But I don’t even get what’s going on! All everyone ever talks to me about is things they think I did, which means they’re either telling me information I already know or just fucking wrong because I didn’t do that. Howard treats me like we’ve got an unsteady partnership, and what does he give me? More fucking contextless names!!!ā€
6:54 PM
ā€œDo you know anyone named Gus? I don’t! That didn’t stop me from almost dying while someone yells incoherently because of him!ā€
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"I did actually meet him once-" Ariel is interrupted by The Fungus running towards the house.
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What the fuck is the fungus
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-grobber
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uwu
6:57 PM
HOLY SHIT HI EVERYONE
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((I’m going to be completely clear and say there’s a lot of ambiguity in saying that The Fungus runs towards me is this a fucking person right))
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okay i'll start
6:59 PM
A man in black sweatpants and a white t-shirt sprints towards the house. His clothes are covered in stains and his face is filthy. He's been crying recently, a lot.
6:59 PM
"W-who are you all?"
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ā€œI’m Ariel." She waves.
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"T-this is my house, er... hm. I-" He looks behind him, as if checking to make sure nobody is following him. "I think you all are in the wrong place."
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ā€œā€¦Private investigator. Call me Seeker. Grobber, correct? I assume this is a bad time?ā€
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He immediately becomes defensive. "I haven't done anything- I- I- I- who sent you!?"
7:05 PM
"Was it Fritz, huh!? Was it that therapist piece of shit, trying to get dirt on me?"
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ā€œYes, let’s list all the names and occupations of everyone we know. A great start. I know of a man named Shuichi Maoziwam. Do you?ā€
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"W-wait. You all aren't with the cops, right?"
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"I know someone named Jeremy Baxter." Ariel adds this important fact.
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ā€œMy sole interest is uncovering the truth.ā€
7:08 PM
I take a deep breath. ā€œThanks, Ariel.ā€
7:14 PM
ā€œI have no interest in targeting you. You may well be a victim. But I need to know of who.ā€ Whom? Whatever. Either way’s probably fine. I force a Cool Disinterested look, hands in my pockets. ā€œA lesser man than me might take your frenzied reaction as confirmation of something, and pursue you rapidly and without mercy. But I’m not interested in the parlor tricks of a pig after a forced confession. I won’t leave your premises, but you may take a moment to better prepare yourself for a conversation if you’d prefer.ā€ I hold back from specifically saying he should take a shower. (edited)
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"Well then maybe, I, er...." He looks behind himself. "You know not everyone, like, fucking wants to be investigated, right? I haven't killed anyone, and, like-" He looks around. "...If you want to keep talking... we should... we should probably go inside."
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ā€œI am aware. I’m not accusing you of killing anyone.ā€ I enter the house of The Fungus from Advehnt Guard.
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Grobber goes in and waits for Ariel to close it. After he's in by himself, he goes into his room, and emerges with a bong. He'll make sure to close the door behind him. He'll light it and take a few hits. "...Oh my god." He'll cough a few times, then take another couple hits. "Okay.... yeah. Yeah. Sorry, I had a... rough morning. Either of you smoke?"
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Ariel goes in and closes the door yup.
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Shit. I mean, yes, obviously. I think I have my vape with me right now. But what exactly is up with this? First of all, this doesn’t fit with the image of a judicious detective at all. So it’s weird for him to even ask. Is he making conversation with a rhetorical question, or… Well, I mean, shit, private investigators are people too. I’m sure some of them d—but wait, they wouldn’t admit it on the job, would they? I don’t fucking know. And then there’s the matter of what Ariel will say if she says anything. Does this even matter? It has to, right? This is such an obviously unnatural reaction to someone implying you’re connected to a crime. He’s trying to pull something off… but what? I can’t let him mess with me. ā€œOn occasion.ā€ I say this after staring at the bong for several seconds.
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He'll wordlessly offer the bong to Dana.
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Oh, fuck. Jesus. That’s a direct prompt. I can’t halfass responding to this. Would this be something considered unsanitary? I feel like if a detective was offered, like, a drink by someone they were investigating, they’d decline. You can’t poison a fucking BONG, can you? I mean, obviously it isn’t, he just— I, Dana Craig, accept the bong, which I, scipe, know very little about, and I (dana) interface with it as generically as possible without description to avoid embarrassing me (scipe).
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"Oh, shit!" He chuckles to himself. "So you really aren't a cop. Damn, haha..." After Dana hits it, Grobber will take it back and hit it once himself.
7:29 PM
"...Oh, shit..."
7:30 PM
"So, uh... what are you doing here again?" (edited)
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Ariel is not saying anything but her expression betrays a deep confusion.
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She wouldn’t get it.
7:35 PM
ā€œI’m hereā€¦ā€ I think it over. I don’t think I’m being particularly affected by any funny herb right now, it’s just hard to fully recall what the fuck led to this. ā€œto clarify a few things up. In part, finance. Have you been involved in any large transactions as of late? Again, I’m not charging you with anything, this is for the sake of sorting greater scope things out. I don’t even personally have the authority to do anything like that. I could totally lie to my employer and claim you admitted to every murder in the last five years and it wouldn’t do squat.ā€ I pretend to smile all nice, laughing briefly. ā€œI hope you trust at least that I’m not going to do that.ā€
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"Yeah, haha... shit, man... if you didn't know my name, I think you would have absolutely the wrong guy." He leans forward. "Listen, man... helping you with your shit is kinda boring... I'll tell you everything I know though, if you help me with something I'm trying to figure out, good deal?"
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ā€œIf it ensures your cooperation, I’ll assist to the best of my ability.ā€ I guess?????
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"So." He hiccups. "Oh my god, haha..." He shakes his head. "So there's this guy, right? Gus Amon. Apparently, he was working for the therapist Carolyn Blythe for just the last few weeks? Days or so? Fuck if I remember. But very recently. That's what she told me. Before that, he was a butler or some shit for Shuichi Maoziwarm. Maoziwam? Maozi... mazoi-shit, man... Anyway, before that he was a police officer." He shakes his head. "This guy is in some deep shit. I think his car got spotted at the killing of this girl, right? And the kicker is... well, at the same time, some mafia guy shot this girl. And just a bit later, that mafia guy turned up dead." He belches softly. "...I'm trying to figure out more about Gus Amon. This picture doesn't fit together. You're a private investigator, right? Tell me what you know about the guy. Apparently, even my neighbors and shit know who this guy is, man..."
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true? @Ehn/PC
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That's--! Is it the same guy? I don't know, but I have to assume it is. Gus Amon... his full name. And he... But what the hell? All these other names... is this some kind of freak coincidence?? Have I met the person who can answer everything? And the mafia guy... ugh. I need to frame this like I'm answering him, at any rate. I take a deep breath. "I'm not entirely familiar with all the details, but I'm aware of this case. Or I guess, these cases. I'm curious how you know about them, but that can wait. Let me summarize some points."
7:50 PM
And he used to be a police officer. Could "Gus" be Gus's name?
7:52 PM
"Gus Amon is dead. Prior to this, he had confirmed affiliations with the mafia."
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"Yeah, apparently he killed himself right in front of that Carolyn chick. You know, she's not all bad, I think she's actually kinda nice..." He's leaning his head back.
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"HE W--" I clear my throat. "I've had separate reasons to be suspicious of Carolyn Blythe. But before now, I considered it a largely unrelated incident. I've clearly been left out of the loop of some important information."
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"Suspicious of her? She's like, a therapist, man. She's barely involved with this at all. Seems like she just tried to help him, seriously fucked it up, and then he killed himself or something."
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"It could certainly be unrelated. Again, I don't have the authority to act immediately on anything. But Carolyn Blythe was involved in a missing person incident. It was resolved, but not in a way that absolved her of my suspicion." This is... close enough to true.
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(come on sciiiipe you take so long to type sciiiiiiiiiiipe)
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"Compounding that with her close connection to a known felon can draw some wary looks. In addition... the girl who died. The one Gus was suspect for, because of the location of his vehicle. Do you... know her name, by any chance?"
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The Fungus
(come on sciiiipe you take so long to type sciiiiiiiiiiipe)
((hopefully, after nine craigillion years in development, it will have been worth the wait))
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The edge of his mouth twitches. "Michelle. Her name was Michelle. The girl that was shot was Dana Craig. Wait-" he jumps up from laying to an upright sitting position. "I need to fucking... I need to fucking google if it happened at Subway."
8:01 PM
"Holy shit, if it happened at Subway... then that fucking guy... he must've fucking..." he chuckled to himself. "Oh man, that poor guy..."
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"C--Calm down. Both of those sound correct to me. I don't believe the location was of significance?" Don't fucking google Dana Craig holy SHIT
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"No man, I met this fucking guy, and he works at Subway. And he was telling me about this insane guy that started shooting people..." He chuckles.
8:03 PM
"...Shit, if Carolyn was involved in what happened... man, I gotta tell Grace."
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"...Grace Rollins. A close friend of Michelle, and a client of Carolyn Blythe. That was another connection."
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"Carolyn drives her up the wall, man. Seems like every day Grace comes back in here crying about something Carolyn said. It's fucked up, really. Doctors shouldn't do that to people."
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She... I make an upset face. It's not fake, maybe? "I'm sure circumstances have made her particularly vulnerable emotionally. I feel sorry for the girl." I shake my head. "While we can't call it unrelated, the incident involving Dana Craig seems... shall we say, unplanned. It's unlikely that a member of the mafia would just happen to show up to Michelle's workplace on the day she dies. But Michelle wasn't there, and what happens from then on is a freak accident of misfortune. It's outside my area of interest."
8:10 PM
I clear my throat. "You started this with a question: What's the deal with Gus Amon? My answer is that he is a former police officer turned criminal mastermind. He may have killed Michelle, but he also may have not done so. I'm not sure what piece you're unsatisfied with or believe is missing, but there's a high chance it's related to the business I came here for."
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He chews the side of his mouth. "It's like, motive, dog. That's the fucking, police name or investigator name or whatever. Michelle was just some chick, right? She was killed in her home. Why would Gus Amon, a... a criminal mastermind as you say, fucking... walk up and shit and just cap her? It doesn't make any sense."
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"My opinion as a detective is that there amounts to four possibilities, which may intersect or all contain elements of the truth. That there is something we do not know about Gus, something we do not know about Michelle, something we do not know about Carolyn Blythe... or something we do not know about Shuichi Maoziwam."
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"...Well, anyway. I haven't made any big purchases recently..." He sighs. "I'm probably fucking useless for your damn investigation anyway..." He sighs. "Sorry for keeping you here, it's just been a while since I've had anybody else to smoke with." "...A long while."
8:18 PM
"'Sides Grace, I mean..."
8:19 PM
(when is a good time to go get dinner btw)
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((you can eat i will permit it))
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((I will NOT permit it(I am evil person who enjoys when people starve to death))
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((Idk I guess I can continue. Just meant that we’re already gonna be ahead apparently since we’re the only two people who actually existed today so there’s no need to rush))
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(Ok but this seems to be a PC conversation that could go on for a while)
8:54 PM
(Idk what's your opinion atmey)
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((I do not really mind))
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ā€œI don’t mind. This has been informative. My employer believed you were related to an inexplicable surge in earnings for Maoziwam, but I can’t guarantee he’s right about this.ā€ I think of what else I can ask about. ā€œDo you know Sean Niebel?ā€
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"Who? I don't know who that is... sorry. You want another hit by the way?" He'll offer the bong to Dana.
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Dana will accept. ā€œ(cough) Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve been subject to an infuriatingly spotty source of information myself. He’s some kind of CEO, I think? I would much sooner believe he’d be involved in some monetary scheme. You seem, uh, well off, but certainly not the type for that. Still, there’s a reason your name came up.ā€ I look right at Grobber. ā€œHow exactly do you know about any of this? Plenty of it is public record, and you happen to have a personal connection to Blythe. But I find it strange to imagine your interest in this is a matter of a hobby.ā€
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"...hm. I'll answer your question, but indulge me for a second. Why do you believe I'm involved in this, with Shuichi and all this shit?"
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ā€œSeveral days ago, a man named Mats Rumen stole from Maoziwam’s holdings. He also died, but we’ll table that for now; I think it has a very mundane explanation.ā€ ā€œThe security at the location he stole from was… highly unusual. As was the manner in which he organized the inventory. This, combined with the fact that, though their relationship was tenuous, Rumen worked for Maoziwam, has caused my employer to suspect that the crime was some sort of charade to distract the police while he nets a profit elsewhere.ā€ I bonghit. ā€œI follow his logic, but he skips from this to ā€˜the money came from Niebel and Grobber and Gus Amon probably masterminded it’ without explanation or elaboration. We… aren’t on the best of terms. So I’m trying to solve something he thinks he’s already figured out, since it’s a prerequisite to what he actually wants me to figure out. Completely ridiculous.ā€
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"...Give me a moment." Grobber checks his bank account on his phone.
9:32 PM
@Ehn/PC
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I wait, not knowing he’s doing specifically this or what it will result in.
9:33 PM
((rules that we are both stubbornly attached to our grammatical perspective in narration))
9:33 PM
((characterization vital))
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Grobber's bank account is entirely empty.
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"Ah. Literally all my money was stolen." He leans back. "Ah, fuck."
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"Is that a lot?" Ariel.
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"My bank account is empty. So that's why my card bounced yesterday..."
9:35 PM
"Yes. Several hundred thousand dollars, man... shit!" (edited)
9:37 PM
"Oh my god... and Gus Amon was. He was in this house! I... I knew he wasn't using the bathroom! Oh my god!"
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ā€œI see. If nothing else, you’re definitely cleared in my eyes from having any knowing part in this.ā€ I shake my head. ā€œI’m sorry for breaking this to you. I can only hope there’s adequate protection against this sort of fraud.ā€
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"I solved it! Fuck yeah, haha.... oh my god..."
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ā€œSo it was him. Hmph.ā€
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"That fuck... christ."
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ā€œWhy was he in your house? We know the real reason now, of course, but what did he tell you?ā€
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"...well shit. How am I gonna pay taxes!"
9:40 PM
"He came together with Carolyn... when she wanted to come see me."
9:40 PM
"Christ, I'm fucked! I'm dead! No!" He clutches his head.
9:41 PM
"Carolyn, she came for me... she wanted to talk to me about Grace. fuck! FUCK!"
9:42 PM
"I'm dead man... shit." He sighs.
9:43 PM
"I can't buy any more weed. Fuck."
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ā€œHey, moneyā€¦ā€ What? Isn’t everything? This is beyond a small issue. I don’t understand this man’s situation, but it’s pretty fucking clear he’s not going to be able to bounce back from this the way some shithead CEO would. You’re here for money. You just rambled about hating what it takes to survive. You’d be lying to him. Here because minimum wage wasn’t enough. Even that was more than zero. I sigh. So much for the detective. ā€œI’m trying to act professional about this, but I’m honestly incredibly fucking mad right now. Not at you, just generally. …My real name is Dana Craig. You can probably intuit why I worried I might want to hide that.ā€
9:49 PM
ā€œIt was inevitably going to be found out. My appearance isn’t exactly some state secret. I’m just paranoid as of late.ā€
9:53 PM
ā€œI was later than I intended to be coming here than I planned today. That’s because I was held at gunpoint by armed thugs accusing me of killing Gus. Yesterday, I searched for my… I searched for Grace Rollins, who you know, concerned about her well being. I found her alive, but on the verge of an emotional breakdown over Carolyn Blythe. Before that, I was interrogated obsessively by the police trying to make me confess something I don’t even know of. And before that, the woman I’ve spent many a workday standing next to leaves the store buying some cup ramen and never returns to anyone ever again.ā€
9:54 PM
ā€œGus is dead, apparently. But whatever ugly hydra he sprang from is alive and well. And it’s trying to fuck with me. It’s already taken more from you than anyone should reasonably lose.ā€
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"...Dana Craig, huh... Grace said I wouldn't wanna talk with you, no matter what." He stands up. "Sorry for turning this interrogation back on you, but in my defense, you made it easy. But I've got one more question for you. What's your opinion of Belto Shelk?"
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I smile. ā€œWe’ve had something of a falling out. I’m sorry you’ve ended up in the middle of it. I wasn’t aware you two were familiar.ā€ ā€œAnyway, I don’t know? I really have no idea what you’re looking for here. With Belto Shelk. He’s fine. Not the best man to ever hold that position, but not the worst.ā€
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"I was hoping that you hated the guy, er... sorry. I, uh... I kinda have a complex about Belto Shelk. One of his fans has been stalking and, uh... harassing me here." He stands up. "Well, whatever you need, this mystery and my group is all I have now. Literally, I guess, hahaha..."
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"I do kind of hate him. But it's more of a personal annoyance than anything political. I didn't know he had 'fans'."
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"Bigbeltoshelkfan..." he sighs. "Can you keep a secret? I like to share things with people I smoke with. It's about how I got most of my information about... everything."
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"I'm pretty good at hiding information."
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"I'm The Fungus."
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"That’s the guy from the attacks with the homeless people, right?"
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"I see. I don't understand exactly what this means, but I've heard that set of words."
10:09 PM
"Ariel seemed to know about this, yeah."
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"Okay... the attacks aren't the main thing, they were- augh."
10:10 PM
"Yeah... I have a lot of pull with the broken and downtrodden of this city, heheh..."
10:11 PM
"...We broke into the police station. I got this." He stands up and fetches the police report on Michelle's killing.
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I look through it. "...Wow. I've wanted this sort of information for a while now. Thank you, The Fungus." I provide The "Brentwood Grobber" Fungus with my phone number, solidifying our status as allies.
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LFG!!!
10:14 PM
"Okay. Well, you're due for a story."
10:14 PM
He glances at Ariel. "What's your deal by the way?"
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Ariel provides both of them with her phone number, solidifying her status as gay.
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The Fungus
He glances at Ariel. "What's your deal by the way?"
"Oh, I just help Dana."
10:17 PM
I accept Ariel's act of providing me her phone number which I already have and have used to communicate with her just earlier today. I am a hospitable friend.
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"...My life is a fucking disaster. Since my parents passed, I've been rotting away in this house, mostly alone, but sometimes with Grace. Several days ago, a dog... I saw a dog... and... uh..." He scratches the back of my head. "Okay, I'll admit, I was super high, uh... but I got... superpowers. I think... I was chosen by something. I was chosen by The Fungus." He gives a small grin. "That's why people follow me. I perform miracles. Well, Grace told me to break into this police station. She wanted me to help her solve this mystery. I've also... well, I've been in contact with Carolyn. We're... friends, I guess."
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"I see." Obviously I completely believe this, but it's better for him to think I'm maybe just humoring him.
10:24 PM
A lonesome heir. That makes sense, I suppose.
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He is too high to grok this social move.
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Double triple bluff failure.
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"That's how I know most of this stuff. I hear shit from the homeless, Carolyn told me stuff, and Grace has looked into all this stuff a bunch."
10:28 PM
"She seems to think someone else did it... some guy."
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"That makes sense. The Carolyn and Grace connections already explained a lot of why your name would come up and you'd know this stuff, and the rest is the sort of thing that might be accessible via local rumors. And I'd agree there's some unknown element here. As for me, I don't feel like hiding this either. I'm uh..." I scratch the back of my head. "Well, beyond the personal connections you probably know of like Grace, the person I've heard a lot from is the employer I mentioned. He's a cop, but his association with me is strictly outside of that context. Pretty sure it's technically illegal. He's kinda blackmailing me, but it's in a way where I get to make a living, so whatever."
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"Well I guess that's how we got here... where do we go next? I guess I could go back to Carolyn... she fucking owes me for letting Gus in my home. But my guess is she'll stonewall me. Shuichi hasn't returned any of my emails about Gus. So uh... who else do we have?"
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"Me personally? I'm going to try to talk to Carolyn again at some point. I spoke with her earlier, but I didn't know about... a lot of this, back then. Maybe I'll have better luck than you. I imagine you're probably at a disadvantage trying to get something out of a conversation with a person whose job it is to understand your way of thinking. But she has no fucking idea who I really am." I yawn. It's been a long day, and I'm not even sure if it's particularly late yet. "Also probably going to stop by my old workplace. I haven't spoken with my boss since before all of this, and I only had a very short exchange with the night shift janitor guy a little while ago. Maybe he knows something." I pause. "And I guess I do have to report back to my benefactor-slash-extorter. I'll try to be reasonable with it. No stuff about being the Fungus or anything overly personal, just the facts of how Gus screwed you over. That work for you?"
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He sighs. "...yeah. I'm gonna... I'll figure something out. If I find anything out about... this-" he sighs. "I'll let you know. And if you need a place to crash, I'm pretty far off the grid. As long as I can pay property taxes, I guess... heheh... Its been a long time since I've had a positive social interaction." He gives a tired smile. "Its nice to, eh, meet you, and shit, hahaha..."
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I smile. ā€œLikewise. I’ll keep you posted on what I figure out. I’m likely to be asked to look into other things as well. Ariel too. She’s sort of caught up in all this by circumstance.ā€ I successfully remember Ariel exists.
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Grace bursts into the house. "…Dana? What the fuck!?" ((End session))
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((Brentwood, what are you doing? Craig. What the FUCK?!))
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(Haha Grobber you are befriending my estranged former associate)
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:thefungusnextsession:
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((Ariel somehow 4th wheeling but in a worse way))
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((that is the most ariel thing to do yes))
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((tbh ariel being like me despite not being controlled by me is truly perfect. There was a time where I was the 31st wheel somehow because literally every single couple decided to come out into the place where I was third-wheeling my friends and there was just that many of them so this is extremely fitting lol.))
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Grace bursts into the house. "…Dana? What the fuck!?"
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I blink twice. ā€œā€¦Hello.ā€
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"What are you doing here!?"
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Grobber purses his lips. His gaze flits between the two women.
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ā€œInvestigation. I didn’t know you knew this guy.ā€
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"And you just happened to come here? Yeah, right. Who put you up to this? Carolyn? It was her, wasn't it?"
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ā€œNo. Why would I listen to anything she said? I’m here on a matter unrelated to that. The world doesn’t revolve around you, Grace.ā€
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Grobber winces some at that comment.
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Grace winces at well. "...Fuck you."
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I stare at her, smirking slightly. ā€œAm I unwelcome, then? I was about to head out, actually. No need to make a scene.ā€
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Grobber swallows and begins to speak, but stops and looks away.
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ā€œYou’re both quite good friends, I get it. No need to push this, I can take a hint.ā€ Perhaps Grace Rollins is the Ariel May of Brentwood Grobber.
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Ariel waves to Grace. "Hi." "Who’s she?" Grace.
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ā€œThis is Ariel May. Her name’s Ariel May.ā€
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"It’s true. My name is Ariel May." Ariel May. "Yeah, I got it the first time." Grace.
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Grobber leans over to Grace. "She came with Dana... er. I think they're investigating??? Together..." He coughs. "Oh and Dana, you... er.... I don't know how you got here, but you probably dont want to be driving... if you're not used to... uh... yeah."
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ā€œNah. I used public transport. Don’t own a car.ā€
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"Sounds like a lot of effort to come here for an 'investigation'." Grace. "Why would you be investigating him anyway?"
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ā€œBecause someone stole all his money.ā€
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"..." He sighs. "...Yeah. I... it's all gone. I think it was when Carolyn came over... that guy that was with him. He said he used the bathroom... but I don't think he did."
1:32 PM
"He was doing something... all the money's gone now. I'm... broke, haha..."
1:32 PM
He hangs his head.
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"...What? Really?" Grace. "All of it?"
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He nods. "I checked today... and my card bounced unexpectedly a few days ago. The house still probably has some value... but... it's all gone."
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"But... That doesn't... That can't... She came for me. Why would they take all of your money?" Grace.
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"It..."
1:36 PM
"...Should we call her? I was going to anyway."
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ā€œI don’t believe we can say for sure if Blythe is involved or not.ā€
1:37 PM
ā€œIt seems obvious there’s a lot of different connections Gus could’ve held highest priority, for doing this prior to kicking the bucket.ā€
1:38 PM
ā€œIf the information I’ve gotten is right, Maoziwam likely benefits directly from this, for one.ā€
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"Maoziwam? Like... the rich guy?"
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ā€œThat would be the one. Shuichi.ā€
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"...I think I'm gonna call her. Yeah." He smiles a bit.
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"No, no, you're on the wrong track... It's... No, it's not... The mastermind is a different guy. Stop complicating this with your delusional theories." Grace.
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ā€œAre you referring to me?ā€
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Grobber pulls out his phone and calls Carolyn Blythe.
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ā€œI wouldn’t call this delusional. It could be wrong, but it’s unbiased by personal attachments. My only thing to hold against Maoziwam is being a guy with an exorbitant amount of money who spends it in an idiotic way, and that would be the case for anyone behind this.ā€
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"Look, just... Just stay out of it, okay? I'll handle this." Grace. "How?" Ariel.
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ā€œI don’t really trust that, given you had no idea ā€˜this’ even happened before five seconds ago. But good luck.ā€
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(What should I do now should I say I'm calling her in the Grobber carolyn channel)
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Carolyn answers the phone.
1:47 PM
((Just talk in both channels since Dana could hear))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-grobber
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Carolyn answers the phone.
1:47 PM
((Just talk in both channels since Dana could hear))
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Yeah
1:48 PM
"H-hey, ah... what's up?"
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((There've been weirder contrivances))
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Dana Craig
ā€œI don’t really trust that, given you had no idea ā€˜this’ even happened before five seconds ago. But good luck.ā€
"Oh, fuck you." Grace. "You’re such a narcissist."
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(No I think this is the best way to handle it this is good thumbs )
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ā€œI’d like to think of myself as someone with a healthy level of self-esteem.ā€
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"Yeah, so... when you decided to come here... did Gus have any input on that decision?"
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Dana Craig
ā€œI’d like to think of myself as someone with a healthy level of self-esteem.ā€
"It’s true." Ariel. "Get real." Grace.
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ā€œWhere is this even coming from? Do you honestly think you know me? I’ve spent, what, an hour with Grobber? And I already think I’m more aware of him as a person than you are of me.ā€
1:55 PM
ā€œI was the girl Michelle knew, right? And some of your interests she wasn’t really the type to get involved in. So I was the substitute. That’s fine. Makes sense.ā€
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Grobber sets the phone to speaker and sets it on the counter. He motions to Dana and Grace to be quiet.
1:56 PM
right after that happens yup
1:56 PM
"....Yeah. So, okay. He stole like, over a million dollars for me. Hundreds of thousands."
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I nod to Grobber in affirmation, having gotten the last word in.
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"...And he told you to come here?"
2:00 PM
(okay if she says something do i just post it here)
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"Yes, I was well aware that he wished to conduct illegal activities at your house. I did not realize it was so large scale, but I suppose that does not frame me in a more positive light. I could make excuses, being under threat of death would be the easiest, but your opinion of me does not necessarily need to be high for your happiness. In this situation, I feel it's best I admit the truth." Carolyn.
2:00 PM
Grace stares at the phone in stunned silence.
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What a nutter.
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"...Okay. I... I don't care." He pauses. "I need to get that money back Carolyn. I'm... I'm personally involved now, r-right? I... I don't have a choice. Do you have any idea of what to do?" "..." "And why didn't you tell me?"
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ā€œWhat?! Don’t ask her for advice!ā€
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Grobber gives Dana a 'Why are you talking!?!?!' look and does the 😬
2:04 PM
(also should we make just one channel now lol)
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((Yeah good idea))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / carolyn-dana-grobber
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:07 PM
"Perhaps I was a bit shaken from watching a suicide yesterday. Whatever the reason, it was a failure on my part to not mention this, yes. I did not purposefully keep it hidden from you... Well, aside from when we met on the day it was stolen, of course. Gus was my only real connection to the mob, so unfortunately I can't really help in giving advice. I wish you luck, obviously."
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"…How did you have a connection to the mob? That’s not exactly a normal therapist thing." Grace.
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"...Alright, well then I guess my only, er... real option I suppose is to ask the police... ...You'd be okay with them visiting you, right? It feels like you've been involved in all this... with Gus... you know a lot more than me."
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ā€œOh, it’s fine! She only has one!ā€ I chuckle.
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:11 PM
"If it's alright with you, I'd rather not involve myself with the police, I don't exactly have... good experiences with them. As for my connection, you could say it was forced upon me, I didn't really have a choice in the matter."
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"She’s right. You don’t want to go to the police." Grace.
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I smile.
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"...Carolyn. You did just admit to a few of us... that you knowingly abetted him in committing a crime, and now... I-I don't have anything anymore..." He coughs. "And from what people have told me, you seem to have a whole lot of connections to all this thing..." "Carolyn, I like you a lot... really... heheh... but... I had everything taken away from me, right? I really want to get it back... and I'll do everything I can to do that... right? And if the only way is going to the police... I need a place to live, Carolyn. Grace and I need to eat. You understand that, right? You want us to be happy."
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:17 PM
"You're right, I certainly would assist in helping you acquire that happiness, but how exactly would turning me into the police benefit you? I've told you everything I know related to this matter. Allowing me the freedom to try to find a way to help you on my end seems like the superior option, don't you think?"
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"...You're right, Carolyn. It- it would be wrong of me to do that to you... I understand what it can be like to have people judge you... er... I guess I'm just assuming you feel judged by the police, sorry... eheheh..." He swallows. "...You actually haven't told me a lot. How did you meet Gus? It seems you only knew each other for a short time..."
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:20 PM
"I suppose some context on my relationship would be helpful, yes. I first met Gus the day before we visited you, he broke into my home and attempted to blackmail me, holding me at gunpoint as he explained that I was to follow his orders. He needed someone to distract you while he entered the house, that was my role. Once that was finished, he never spoke of you again, moving onto different jobs for the mob. Is that an understandable series of events?"
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ā€œDo you know a Shuichi Maoziwam? I don’t mean knowing of him. I mean any more direct connection. A friend of a friend, perhaps?ā€ I say this such that Carolyn can hear.
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:26 PM
"...I've never met him, but I have a connection, yes. I know I said I would help you, but this connection is also someone I wish to help, so I must be sure of something first. What do you intend to do with them?"
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ā€œI see.ā€ I stop. I wanted to prod more on Gus, but unless he’s secretly alive, she’s talking about someone else. I… ā€œI suppose I don’t have any real intents to do anything with them beyond try to ask a few questions.ā€
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"...Carolyn... you said Gus committed suicide in front of you. I know it must have, ehm... been so troubling... If you were some person he found as a distraction... why were you so important? Why would he commit suicide... in front of you? What did he say?"
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ā€œTch.ā€ I wanted to push on that. He’s being… way too soft.
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:33 PM
"I'm sorry, but... that is a bit of a personal matter. I assure you, it's unrelated to your situation. It was entirely because of... my failure to help him. But that's fine, I'm helping you now, after all. As for my connection with Shuichi, it's likely I'd be able to set up a meeting with Dana, if that would help."
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"Mmm." You hear Grobber murmur while biting his lip.
2:35 PM
"Dana?"
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ā€œThat would be fantastic.ā€ In truth, I don’t care that much about jeopardizing her ability or willingness to introduce me to someone who probably doesn’t even have any helpful information. So… ā€œI do have one more thing I’m curious about, though.ā€ (edited)
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:39 PM
"Go ahead and ask, I hope I can provide a satisfactory answer."
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ā€œA week ago, my coworker Michelle was murdered. The location of Gus’s car made him the prime suspect. This possible-murderer turned to you for aid in a different matter, seeking out you specifically to do something as generic as distracting someone. The someone in question was one of your clients, a friend of my associate Grace Rollins, also a client of yours. He used this opportunity to steal massive sums of cash for the benefit of a man you’ve already mentioned you have a second different intermediate with.ā€ My pace shifts as I go through this, expression changing, no longer bored or a half-patronizing smile but something closer to the Dana picrew. ā€œThen, the one other person who would know the truth about this event suddenly dies right in front of you, in a situation that seems to have been marked down by every single person as a suicide with the exception of a man who actually knew him personally. I actually got blamed for his death by a guy, haha. Wonder what sequence of misfires caused that. Anyway, now despite the forces intervening, I made it to the man I wanted to talk to. I didn’t know you existed at all until a couple days ago, Carolyn, but I just keep hearing your name come up. From someone who seems terrified of you, calls you crazy, to someone who parasocially latches onto you far beyond the regular professionalism and simple clerical role a therapist should have.ā€ I’m not really considering my surroundings at this point. ā€œSorry, I’m kind of rambling, eheh. It’s been a long day. Anyway, I was just wondering, do you think you’re a good liar?ā€
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"..."
2:55 PM
"...Carolyn's not my therapist, she's eh... she's a fr-"
2:55 PM
"She's just, eh... a person I know... eh..."
2:55 PM
"Heheh..." He swallows.
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 2:58 PM
Carolyn lets out a small laugh "No, I don't believe myself a good liar at all. Keeping confidentiality, sure, but lying isn't exactly needed in my trade. Ms. Craig, if you'd like to accuse me of something, I'd ask you to be a bit more direct."
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Grobber swallows. "Eh- hem... we could... we could do this l- we could... eh... nevermind..."
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I shake my head. ā€œShe’s not your friend. She’s someone paid to talk to you. Maybe she’s good at that! But you can’t rely on a therapist for more general life fulfillment. Being reliant on someone else just to function isn’t good for you.ā€ I respond to Carolyn. ā€œNo, I just wondered about that. Thanks for your time.ā€
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"No I... I don't even- I've met Carolyn once... like... ever. I've n-never gone to therapy... or eh. Paid a therapist... or..." He sighs.
3:01 PM
"Do either of you have anything to ask?"
3:01 PM
"I mean Grace or Dana... Ehm. That's what I meant..."
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ā€œOh. Looks like I jumped to conclusions, then. I try not to do that. Sorry, Grobber.ā€
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"I don’t have anything to ask." Ariel May, who is also on the call.
🐐 3
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"I... it's fine. I'm fine. I just... eh... it was... yeah. It's fine."
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 3:02 PM
"Grobber is being honest when he says I'm not his therapist, but Dana does have a point. Self-sufficiency is quite vital to living a satisfied, happy life. Not to say you shouldn't have connections, but I do try to help clients to the point where they can function on their own."
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"Oh... sorry Carolyn." He slouches a little.
3:02 PM
"And.. sorry Ariel. I didn't know if you wanted Carolyn to know that-"
3:03 PM
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
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Grace is silent.
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Carolyn Blythe 11/19/2022 3:04 PM
"If that's everything, I do have another incoming call, so I will wish the four of you luck, and see what I can do to help uncover information."
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ā€œGoodbye, Carolyn.ā€
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"Ehm... sorry Carolyn! I- they came and they were talking about you... and I thought it might be better to ask you yourself, heheh... it got out of hand... it always does. I'll talk to you later! I'll tell you if I find out anything else... Yeah. Thanks Carolyn." He nods.
3:05 PM
"Okay bye." He hangs up.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-grobber
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Grobber will give a sly smirk to everyone else in the room after his comment.
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Grobber gives a nod to Dana and keeps his mouth shut for a moment. @Dana, Insolent Fool of Omelas
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Dana stares at him puzzled.
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"She's definitely lying." He nods. "You should bug her about that..."
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ā€œā€¦Thanks, Grace.ā€ I finally get up. ā€œHad I just walked out earlier, I would’ve missed something very valuable.ā€ I’m still a little giddy and adrenaline fueled.
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"Whatever she's hiding, revealing it would be more of a problem then... well, us in her case." He swallows. "So it's important."
3:07 PM
He slumps his shoulders. "Man... that got intense..." He sighs.
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Dana Craig
ā€œā€¦Thanks, Grace.ā€ I finally get up. ā€œHad I just walked out earlier, I would’ve missed something very valuable.ā€ I’m still a little giddy and adrenaline fueled.
"Oh, you’re just so welcome."
3:07 PM
This is evident sarcasm.
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"...Whatever. I'm glad I got to talk to her, at least..." He's in his own little world.
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ā€œAh, sorry. How dare you show up to this place you had a reason to show up to, Grace! I’m personally offended by this, because your very presence at anything I consider relevant to my personal life beyond the utility based role I assign to you is a disgrace!ā€ Haha. That was a pun accidentally. ā€œIs that better?ā€
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Grobber sighs and goes through his phone to check his emails and notifications and such. (edited)
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Dana Craig
ā€œAh, sorry. How dare you show up to this place you had a reason to show up to, Grace! I’m personally offended by this, because your very presence at anything I consider relevant to my personal life beyond the utility based role I assign to you is a disgrace!ā€ Haha. That was a pun accidentally. ā€œIs that better?ā€
"I'm not giving you any role! I’m just asking you to get out of my life!" Grace.
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ā€œI’m not making any effort to be in your life. I apologize for not moving out of the country so you have no chance of seeing me, but money’s tight right now.ā€
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"God, you are the most painfully smug person I’ve ever met. How were we ever friends!? I give you the slightest rude response and you start responding like a redditor meeting a 5 year old." Grace. "I don’t think she’s that bad." Ariel.
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(I'm like 15 minutes away from boarding I can probably still be here for a tiny bit after that though)
3:28 PM
Grobber will move to a different part of the room and start going through his notepad, writing to himself.
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ā€œI never said friends. I didn’t bring that word up. But if you think it sounds like I’m talking to a child, who does that reflect on?ā€ I start heading out of the building.
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He'll grab his bong and take another hit. His motions seem rehearsed. He has gone through scenarios like this before. (edited)
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Dana Craig
ā€œI never said friends. I didn’t bring that word up. But if you think it sounds like I’m talking to a child, who does that reflect on?ā€ I start heading out of the building.
"Fuck you!" She just yells this at Dana as she leaves.
3:34 PM
Ariel waves goodbye and follows Dana.
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Grobber will text Dana. Bye. Let me know if you find anything out. I hope you make it home safe. Keep in touch.
3:39 PM
"Mmf." He'll say as she is leaving.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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I’m going back to Avengard.
3:36 PM
I guess Ariel is too.
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Ehn is standing outside the house. "Hiya!"
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ā€œHello.ā€ I don’t stop walking.
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Ehn follows. "Don’t worry, I’ll be quick! Hanging around this girl isn’t exactly my favourite hobby." Ehn indicated she meant Ariel. "Just wanted to help you get to Sean Niebel, since he’s being annoying too."
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ā€œMm. I’m not sure why you’d think I should meet Sean Niebel.ā€
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"Because old Howard asked you to, right?" Ehn.
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ā€œThat certainly did happen in a place you weren’t in.ā€ I shake my head. ā€œI don’t actually expect any response to that, this is just our very witty banter where I point out you’re suspicious and then the conversation moves on.ā€ (edited)
4:01 PM
ā€œWhat do you have to tell me.ā€
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"I’m not suspicious. I am Ehn! Don’t you find the banter fun? It’s way more fun than whatever Ariel's up to."
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ā€œShe’s also here. So it’d be about the same amount of fun, I think.ā€
4:11 PM
ā€œI don’t need to be appealed to. Whatever cutesy childlike shtick you want to put on, it’s really not needed. I was already not buying it from the start, and your advice led me into a big enough mess that I’m certainly never gonna let my guard down now. You can just tell me the information you want to tell me and phrase it however you think makes me most likely to do what you want.ā€ (edited)
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"Oh come on, don’t you think it’s more fun like this? Crazy dealings with the police, murder investigations, it’s a fantastical adventure truly fitting of the name Dana Craig. Don’t you agree?"
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ā€œIt’s alright. We’re getting there.ā€
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"Oh well. I tried." Ehn.
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ā€œTried what? I don’t know what we’re even talking about anymore.ā€
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"Sean Niebel! Just follow me!"
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ā€œRight now?ā€ I look around uncomfortably.
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"Yeah?" Ehn. "We don’t really have to go if you don’t want to." Ariel. Ehn let out the most exaggerated yawn ever.
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ā€œFine. I’ll get both done in one go. Lead the way.ā€ I’ll kill Jeff later.
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Ehn led the way. ((End session because Choo is offline))
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woah
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((Saturday))
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((kid named))
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Ehn led the way to a parked car.
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I look up Sean Niebel on my phone. Just to make sure. He's like. A businessman? Right? I read his name a week ago.
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((Roll))
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Wow. I don't even know who Sean Niebel is. Crazy.
3:40 PM
((2))
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The only thing Dana finds is a few pictures of a man she does not know is not actually Sean Niebel, and simply bares a vague resemblance to the real one.
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Whatever. I can improvise. Not like it even matters if I can't get information from him. As long as I've tried, I fulfilled the absolute nothing of a task given. "Ehn, why are we here."
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"To talk to Sean Niebel! I told you! He's in the car!" Ehn.
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"What? Is he going somewhere? I don't want to interrupt this fucking guy when I barely have anything to say to him in the first place."
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"Ask him some questions, I dunno. He's always just refusing to follow the plot and sitting in his little pity corner."
3:56 PM
Ehn leapt inside the car.
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"Why do you even--ugh!" I knock on the door of the car.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-sean
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:09 PM
"What do you want?"
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"Are you Sean Niebel?" I peer into the car.
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:09 PM
"Depends."
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"Great. That's fine. I'm not here to extract some legally binding confession out of you. I only need to check a few things." I look away for a moment, considering what to say. "Are you familiar with a man named Gus Amon?"
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:15 PM
"And who are you?"
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"Seeker. A private investigator. Does it particularly matter? I can guarantee my identity is completely inconsequential to your life or this case."
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"She's Dana Craig." Ehn.
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"Sure. We can go with that."
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:17 PM
"With what?"
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Wait, can he see it? "Just considering what to do. I don't really need much, but I hadn't planned for this to take more than a few minutes or involve anything extra on my part." I gesture to the immediate area. "Why are you just loitering around in a car?"
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:24 PM
"Because I enjoy this method of passing time. And how did you find me here?"
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"Because you got sold out, I suppose." I stare at the dubious little creature. "I'm not actually here to talk about your hobbies, surprisingly."
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:30 PM
"Get to the point."
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"I already did. Gus Amon. Just lie if you don't want to admit any connection. Not like I have any way to prove you wrong."
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:33 PM
"What do I get from answering?"
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"Your luck doesn't get any worse, for one. Mostly it's that I leave you alone."
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:37 PM
"Hm. Is that cat still here?"
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"I don't see any cats." Ehn.
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"I'm not sure what you mean by this."
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:43 PM
"Cat, dog, whatever. It was here when you said you 'can go with that', wasn't it?"
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"Ugh, you just never listen." Ehn.
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I point to Ehn. ā€œThat?ā€
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:47 PM
"So it's still here. What did you get from it?"
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ā€œI would certainly hope nothing.ā€ I look disgusted. ā€œAre you alright?ā€
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:51 PM
"Lying is pointless. I know much better than you how that thing works. What's your key object?"
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I shake my head. ā€œOkay. I give up. You win! Keep your secrets. Already figured out enough from the other guy. See ya.ā€ I’m going to leave now. ((Are you having fun Atmey))
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((Yes))
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:55 PM
"Answer my questions."
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ā€œSure. My answer’s no.ā€
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 4:59 PM
"Tell me what I need, and I'll tell you about the man you asked about."
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ā€œWhatever you’re looking for, I don’t have it.ā€
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:10 PM
"If you stop lying and answer, I might help you avoid dying in the immediate future."
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I laugh. ā€œIs that a threat?ā€
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:13 PM
"Absolutely not. I am not the one with the intention of harming you."
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"Then who is?" Ariel May.
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I jump back, having forgot she was here.
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Ehn/PC
"Then who is?" Ariel May.
Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:17 PM
"Can't say until your friend answers my questions. Or, have you seen the animal we are discussing as well?"
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ā€œAriel is… familiar with this thing. Probably more than me.ā€
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"Ugh." Ehn. "It's true." Ariel.
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:19 PM
"So? Your key objects?"
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ā€œI don’t know what this means. What kind of answer would satisfy you? My phone. That’s an object.ā€
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:23 PM
"Key object. The object connected to your ability."
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ā€œYeah, I’m not whatever you think I am. I don’t have any exceptional faculties. I’m not someone with ā€˜talent’ that carries them to success. Just a normal girl trying to sort a few things out.ā€ I look to the side, narrowing my eyes. ā€œWhat about you? Do you think you have an answer for this riddle?ā€ I ask Ariel. I don’t know how she’ll respond. I’m not even sure how I’d like her to. But this is my last chance to not leave empty-handed.
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She looks at Dana in confusion, as if expecting Dana to answer for her.
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:34 PM
I turn to Ariel. "Denying it won't solve anything, you know. Just tell me."
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ā€œNo dice. I’m sorry to have wasted your time, mister.ā€ This is the part where I do a less halfassed attempt at leaving where I actually walk away and ignore successive inquiries. ā€œAriel. We’re done here.ā€
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"Wow, you 3 are really bad at this." Ehn rolls over, annoyed. Ariel followed Dana.
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:40 PM
I wait a bit for them to get far enough not to pose a threat, then get out of the car and point a gun in their direction. "Answer my questions."
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ā€œAh, same here!ā€ I withdraw the gun I acquired earlier. ā€œYou a cop, Sean? Never really knew your deal, and I’d given up on figuring that out.ā€
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Ariel has no firearm.
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Yeah, she doesn’t.
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:52 PM
"Unfortunate that you still refuse to talk. No more arguments here. Though, if you ever want to find out why your life is in danger, my offer still stands. Same to you, 'Ariel'. Guess I don't have to tell you how to contact me?"
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ā€œHah.ā€ I slowly back away, looking over at Ariel, then break into a sprint once I don’t have a direct line of sight with Niebel.
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Ariel follows but without any of the actual precautions.
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Sean Niebel 11/26/2022 5:55 PM
I get back into the car and drive away as well.
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Good for her.
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((Channel split))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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ā€œFuck. Fucking shit. God dammit.ā€ Ehn, you stupid little rat. It won’t happen a third time.
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Ehn stayed with Sean.
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That’s absolutely fine.
5:57 PM
Well, it could be a problem if Ehn decides to tell him about everything. But there wouldn’t really have been a reason to hold off if it were to do that. Besides, Sean seems unreceptive to any communication, even if he might be able to hear.
5:58 PM
That’s the biggest question. It would be so easy if I could call him the person behind everything, behind Ehn, with him claiming to know more about it than I do. But that wouldn’t make any sense.
5:59 PM
It feels much more likely he’s another person approached by the creature. Maybe who has done a better job with solving its existence.
6:01 PM
I’ve been ignoring or minimizing Ehn’s relevance, frankly, since it’s an entity I have seemingly no way of influencing. I don’t want to worry about going up against a god. But there’s no way that’s right. There has to be some method of dealing with it, some limits to what Ehn is capable of. I just need to figure it out.
6:02 PM
As for what Sean said… absolute rubbish. Of course my life is at risk. You’re one of the reasons, jackass. My life never stops being at risk, and even if I pretend he’s telling the truth and actually knows something, what’s one more aggressor?
6:03 PM
Howard was enough. Too much, even. I’m not letting anyone learn any more about me than they need to know.
6:04 PM
Would’ve been willing to ā€œsell outā€ Ariel, so to speak. Not like anyone knowing what she can do puts her at any risk. But there wasn’t any good way to bring that up without bringing suspicion to myself and while ensuring she’s on the same page.
6:05 PM
I should’ve planned more for this. I don’t even know who he fucking is! Why did I let Ehn pressure me? What, was it SOCIAL OBLIGATION? To this fucking CG animal?
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Ariel stares at Dana patiently.
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It was a thought through decision to meet Carolyn as myself. It was a matter of convenience with seemingly low risk to meet Grobber as myself. But him? I should’ve been more clever about this. Fuck! One more loose end. I don’t… I’m not going to try to kill him if he’s not posing an active threat to me. Can’t take that kind of option too lightly.
6:08 PM
ā€œIt could’ve gone a little better.ā€
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"But you made it out."
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ā€œI guess. I’m good at that, at least. That might be enough.ā€ I clear my throat and turn to her. ā€œDo you really know anything more about Ehn? I know it’s been with you at different points when I wasn’t there, but did anything noteworthy happen or come up?ā€
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"She got angry at me, but that's about it."
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ā€œI see. …She, though? Is there a reason you go with that? I don’t remember Ehn ever claiming one way or the other.ā€
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"Oh, I guess I just assumed."
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ā€œI see.ā€
6:31 PM
ā€œI mean, appearance doesn’t really tell anything, it’s an animal. And I guess the voice could go either way. I more just… guessed male via context, I guess. If you’d have forced me to say one. Not actually, like… objectively Ehn’s pretty clearly neither.ā€
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Ehn/PC
"Well, I think that went well." An unfamiliar feminine voice spoke.
((Just to make sure there is no confusion here))
6:41 PM
"Oh, I see."
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ā€œYeah.ā€ I’m going to my house.
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Ariel follows.
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This would make sense she lives right by
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They arrive home.
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((going to a friends so. this would be a good time to end the session.))
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((Alright))
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((Saturday))
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They arrived home.
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Just me? Or did Ariel. like. follow me into my fuckinghome
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It’s an apartment building. They’ve arrived at it.
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geometry
2:05 PM
I don't think I have anything else to do today. "...I'm going to rest. A lot's happened."
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"Alright, goodnight!" Ariel entered the elevator.
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I'm going to head to my room now, yes.
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Kingsley is standing in front of the door.
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"...Can I help you?"
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He steadies himself. "Dana Craig. My name is Johnathan Kingsley. I’m from the police."
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"Yeah. We've met. ...I didn't know what to do, sorry. I just ran as soon as I could."
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"No, it’s me who’s sorry…" He took off his hat and held it in his hands. "I should’ve saved you. I should’ve… We cops are supposed to be heroes, and I completely failed you. I couldn’t do something so basic as firing a gun… I would understand if you think I’m not even fit to wear this badge."
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"Hey, there's a lot of worse things an officer can do than not firing a gun." I scratch the back of my head uncomfortably. "Guess that's not really the kind of feedback you want to hear. I'm afraid I don't know you well enough."
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"Yeah, I… I didn’t come here just to make myself look worse than I already do." He placed the hat back on his head. "I wanted to thank you. I’m… Not exactly sure what you did, but I can’t even feel the bullet anymore. Plus, those guys didn’t even kill me. So thank you. That’s the kind of hero I want to be."
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I don't want to know what the hell my expression is right now. "I-I-- you, well... haha! It's not like..." Okay. "I didn't really do anything myself, but, maybe I was able to sort of, distract... or..." I mean, in truth, it really wasn't me that healed him. But I contributed to knocking that fuckin' guy out, at least. "That man... I don't know him, but he has a history, I'm assuming."
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"Yeah…" He nodded. "But, uh… I had another question. Do you know me? From… Before today."
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I'm quiet for a moment. "...Maybe? I don't specifically remember, but it's possible. I've spoken with the police before."
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"Oh. I see. Detective Scott said you’d recognize me. That’s why I had to stay away at first."
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ā€œYeah, I know him.ā€
2:46 PM
So…. huh.
2:46 PM
Did he know this would happen? Why would he…
2:48 PM
He’s obviously not above working with criminals. But it seems his end goal was to get me out of there… maybe.
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"He asked me to keep you safe. I may have failed today, but… In the future, I’ll do better. I promise. So, if you could please forgive my failure… I owe a great deal to you."
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ā€œOh. Um, t-hanks.ā€ I, uh. ā€œThey did seem to have some vendetta against me… hopefully they don’t do something wild again.ā€
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He waits patiently for your forgiveness. "Yeah… Hopefully. But I don’t believe people get very far without persistence. I think willpower is the most important part of thriving in this society."
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ā€œYeah. Persistence. It’s fine. Everyone has their off days. It’s a lesson for next time. …Please don’t do that again, whether it’s me or anyone else on the line.ā€
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He nodded. "I won’t fail. I can’t fail. I… Owe you a great debt. I think that kind of personal stake should be really motivating."
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ā€œI see. Good luck to both of us, then.ā€
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"Yeah. Just call me if you ever need help. I don’t mind if it’s below the duties of a police office, it’s still a small step to repaying my debt." He gave his phone number.
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ā€œAlright. Uh. Thanks.ā€ Don’t know what I’m gonna do with that, but…
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"Oh, and Detective Scott said he’ll see you tomorrow." He steadied his posture. "That’ll be all."
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ā€œMm.ā€ I make a non-committal response of acknowledgment.
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"Have a good night, Ms. Craig." He left in a very rushed motion.
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So that happened. I enter my room.
3:21 PM
I don’t know why that was as uncomfortable and awkward as it was. Scott literally threatened to kill me at one point and that conversation flowed better.
3:22 PM
Maybe it’s because I think he’s… maybe it’s because Kingsley doesn’t operate in a normal fashion. All of what he was saying was insane, if to my benefit.
3:23 PM
I certainly feel like he owes me, but him feeling it to such an extent? He doesn’t even have any reason to believe I did anything.
3:24 PM
Maybe he’s just rationalizing the job he has to do anyway on orders. …But is Scott still even a normal cop at this point? Kingsley must be able to intuit there’s something strange about a task like this.
3:26 PM
I can’t pretend it’s not kind of nice. Having someone at my beck and call, I mean. Basically like a pet. Wow, what the fuck? What did I mean by that? He’s a cop, who cares. Not gonna offend his sensibilities with a sarcastic thought.
3:26 PM
Maybe I’d be less ambivalent about this if he weren’t so…
3:26 PM
…
3:26 PM
…
3:26 PM
…lame.
3:27 PM
I make sure the door is locked, as well as any windows. I check the time.
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It’s about 10 o’clock. Doors and windows are locked.
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I take a deep breath, and open the notebook. Should I say something? To Ariel, maybe? …I don’t know what good that would do, though. She’d probably just worry. Even if this takes longer than desirable, she can just think I overslept or something.
3:33 PM
And it would be awkward to text her so soon after leaving her.
3:34 PM
There’s nothing meddling with my body does, anyway. She’d have to wait regardless.
3:35 PM
As for the detective, he’s the one who gave me no fuckin’ concrete meeting time, so he reaps what he sows.
3:36 PM
It’ll be a simple job. In and out. As quickly as I can manage. Flee if necessary; it’s not like what a criminal knows can cause me legal trouble.
3:36 PM
I hope this is his actual fucking name, at least. I write Jeff Johnner.
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Nothing happens.
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SIIIIIGH. Right then. Awesome. Just in case, I attempt permutations of Jeff, Geoff, Geoffrey, Jeffrey, and Johnner, Johns, Johnson, Jonner, and Jeanner.
3:46 PM
One must imagine Sisyphus something something.
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Some of these send Dana to bodies in some weird European country. None of them are very interesting.
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Yeah, I guess I should probably be a little more reluctant to write off random names. That could’ve been Sentasaurus 2 for all I knew.
3:53 PM
I put the notebook away and make an annoyed grunt.
3:54 PM
Not like this should surprise me. This is a criminal, not some normal guy. Might’ve gone through a bunch of identities before. Or maybe it’s not even that, he just goes by a different name in the underworld for clout. Like Blackbeard, or Eminem. Annoying.
3:55 PM
I also can’t discount that it IS his real name, and it failed for some other reason. Maybe he died and that’s what happens when I try it with a dead person. Maybe Ehn or whoever placed certain restrictions on this to control me better. I can’t know for sure.
3:57 PM
Was this even a good idea? Some of his lackeys might have suspected me, and Scott would know instantly I had done it. He clearly wasn’t doing the world many favors, but I could get in trouble for fucking with things to that big of a scope.
3:59 PM
I was… looking forward to it. This asshole getting what he rightfully deserves for fucking with me for no god damn reason. Who blabs on about God being real; hearing his own voice confirm that He is, but He’s not your friend. All before meeting with a terrible fate.
3:59 PM
A bit macabre, maybe, but I think I’d earned that much.
3:59 PM
What’s the point of being able to do anything if you can’t even do anything?
4:02 PM
All I ever do is I… possess some guy, and then another guy tells me about some shit that obviously doesn’t matter to me because I’m not that guy. Or I go to someone’s house or car and then explain things for an hour. I mean, I already accomplished my ā€œgoalā€. I’m financially stable now, I guess. Long as I don’t rock the boat I should be good.
4:05 PM
I assume Scott’s gonna come to me. I certainly don’t know where I’d meet him. So assuming this is just a status report and he doesn’t give me any imminent new guys to talk to, I wouldn’t need to go out at all tomorrow. Is that the best option? I was as prepared as I could ever be, and I still almost died twice.
4:07 PM
What was the name of that guy who was with Johnner? Jim Gordon? Or something? I don’t remember with enough confidence to want to risk it. Especially since I have no idea if he’d even be near the man I’m looking for.
4:09 PM
It feels eternal. These moments where I’m just thinking to myself. They feel like they outnumber all of the rest of my life.
4:10 PM
Maybe it’s just only me. I’m the only one who can actually communicate with Dana Craig. No one else knows the intricacies and red herrings that lie beneath, that allows them to actually perceive and interact with me in a way that matters.
4:11 PM
If that’s the case…
4:11 PM
I wish Dana Craig were a bit of a better conversationalist.
4:13 PM
How are you doing, me? I should go to bed. But I’m not tired, is the issue. I don’t think that’s a very interesting answer. It wasn’t an interesting question. Yeah.
4:16 PM
Why should you, do you think? It helps to be properly motivated. I don’t really know. Night and day are a meaningless continuum for me now. I’m freed from a need for any sane schedule. I don’t NEED to do anything. Did you ever, though? Well, when I had a real job… And you could always have just died. I guess. Freedom.
4:17 PM
Not that I would ever make that choice. It’s out of the question. Death is to be avoided. That’s the enemy. That’s what this is all about. But there’s more than one way to die. Right. So it’s a balancing act.
4:19 PM
And what reward awaits you for performing well? Well, eventually still death. But before that… Wealth. Leisure. Health. …Pleasure. Pride.
4:20 PM
It’s not productive to get this existential. But clearly, productivity has never been priority number one.
4:21 PM
I don’t prioritize what society demanded of me. Big deal. It’s carried me this far. But that’s not enough.
4:24 PM
I want… to reach the top. The apex. To become peak. I don’t think getting everything will be enough. But it’ll let me search for more until I’ve achieved any other goals.
4:25 PM
A cornered rat doesn’t get to become famous, or spend a surplus on conveniences. A cornered rat bites the cat and dies for it. Because one bite can’t kill a cat. It’s the size of like twenty of you. A cornered rat lives in filth and breeds with whatever is closest to create a bunch of worthless bastards who will go on and do the same.
4:27 PM
But I mean, hey. The runty little mammals are what survived that thing that killed the dinosaurs. Sometimes it pays to crawl in the dirt.
4:29 PM
I just need to fuck things up enough that we all get reordered. So what if my ability is chaotic? If it’s restricted by incomprehensible rules and circumstances? I just have to keep trying and get lucky. Shake things around enough that I end up on top. And once I’m there, I can bestow my comfort onto those I deem deserving.
4:30 PM
Thats some sus phrasing. But I mean, I’m not a despot. Winning won’t retroactively make me responsible for everything in the world. I’ll basically just be the equivalent of a powerball winner. You can hardly say that’s a significant portion of the bourgeois.
4:30 PM
Bourgiois.
4:30 PM
Buor…
4:31 PM
Bougouirse?
4:31 PM
Bougiou…
4:31 PM
Fuck. No, I’m getting worse.
4:32 PM
It’s not like I need to know how to spell it. Anyone would know what I meant.
4:32 PM
Bourgeoise.
4:33 PM
That feels right.
4:35 PM
Y’know, I could collapse it all. The whole conspiracy. Cut the Gordion knot without any bother for mystery solving. Shuichi Maoziwam’s a public figure. There’s no way he faked his name.
4:36 PM
I hold so much potential. Even if it’s limited by a malicious authority, they can’t have accounted for everything. Even my choices on NOT doing things… they matter. It’s just that nobody will notice them.
4:37 PM
I’m not gonna kill this rich guy I have no reason to kill. Just food for thought. Maybe that can be enough.
4:37 PM
If I’m only extending this saga by my own deliberate choice, I should get the most out of it! I’ll try to grill Scott harder on what’s going on.
4:39 PM
Just for the hell of it, I Google Shuichi Maoziwam. Maybe there’s some publicly known detail I missed that can clue me in on something…?
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((Roll))
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((5 if you want me to roll))
4:40 PM
((yeah))
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Just some recent news about his acquisition of Leiblinc. Nothing major or interesting. (edited)
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No, wait, shut up, me. That is interesting. Haven’t I heard that name?
4:44 PM
I… I’ll look into it later. Investigating business news is a last resort. But that could be the other half of this scheme, beyond Grobber. Scott would know that already, though.
4:48 PM
I get myself ready to sleep and lie in bed.
4:49 PM
That’s that. Scott and whatever he has to say, and looking into Leiblinc and Gordon. As much of that indoors as possible. Sounds good.
4:50 PM
…
4:50 PM
……
4:50 PM
………
4:50 PM
You really can’t will yourself to sleep, huh.
4:51 PM
Hey, isn’t it weird that the criminal mastermind corpse is named Gus? That’s a pretty unremarkable name. Though I’m one to talk.
4:52 PM
And his last name is Amon. Never heard that as a surname. Amon. Gus.
4:53 PM
Same amount of syllables as ā€œThe Fungusā€. Ends the same way. Really makes you think. About something. No, it doesn’t, actually.
4:54 PM
I guess I’m kind of like someone among us. Like, impersonating others unbeknownst to those around them. Not sure how good I’ve been at that, though. My greatest act of deception was accidentally convincing an insane person he was me.
4:57 PM
It’s a lot of missteps and waiting, the real thing. You don’t get to have carefully laid masterful plans that you can bullshit immediately or we just timeskip through the set-up of. It’s a lot of preparation and trial and error. Not everyone can be a breaking bad. Sometimes we just have to… the other parts of breaking bad.
4:58 PM
Everyone hates too much on Skyler, that’s my hot take. She’s doing everything she can for her family, same as Walt. You can’t fault either, on a fundamental level at least.
5:00 PM
I guess it doesn’t hurt that she’s hard to hate on an instinctual level, just looking at her. I guess all mainstream actors are attractive. Doesn’t mean much uniquely for whatshername.
5:03 PM
Unless you’re like. Steve Buscemi. But that’s his thing. He’s like a sort of greasy looking uncanny man. It’s his iconic staple.
5:03 PM
I could pull that off. I could be the fem Steve Buscemi. I’ve got what it takes.
5:04 PM
That seems like a huge stupid waste of time, though. So I’m not gonna try to do that.
5:06 PM
Hey.
5:06 PM
Am I… uh.
5:06 PM
Am I gay?
5:08 PM
I’ve never really. Sort of. I mean, it hasn’t come up. I’m not one of those people obsessed with self description and desperate for attention about how unique they are with their libido.
5:09 PM
And I’m not uh. Unfamiliar. Of course. But it’s always been… yeah, the idea of sex is kind of appealing, of course. As is it terrifying.
5:10 PM
And normally, it involves… it’s two guys of the opposite sex.
5:11 PM
So anyone who likes sex is basically bisexual, I think, if you wanted to use these terms.
5:13 PM
The way we sort of… maybe it’s differentiable by what role you mentally identify with. Well, or which you enjoy in practice. But I’m working with what I have.
5:14 PM
And I…
5:15 PM
It’s just really, truly disgusting. We… that kind of ā€œintimacyā€ā€¦
5:16 PM
People think it’s unclean and gross to pick your nose, y’know? Messing around with the visceral interior of the human body. Let alone if it was someone else’s finger.
5:18 PM
And I don’t… I never liked being hugged. Even as a kid. I wanted to be the one to initiate it, to not be scared by surprise contact. Then they can hold me in response, that was fine.
5:19 PM
This isn’t even related anymore. It sort of is. Everything is, that’s the problem. The cardinal sin is to connect sex with the purity of youth, but the two lead directly to each other in a cycle of loathing.
5:21 PM
I haven’t hugged anyone in a long time. Is that… normal?
5:21 PM
I don’t want to forget how a person feels.
5:22 PM
It’s Kingsley. That’s the fucking problem. I could’ve avoided thinking about any of this if he hadn’t showed up.
5:23 PM
All it takes is his inexplicably demure attitude, and my poisoned irredeemable brain framing that inappropriately, and the realization that I’d have taken things way differently if it was like…
5:23 PM
Michelle. Or something.
5:26 PM
And I’m spiraling out of control. Because it’s not like the understanding changes me. It reframes everything retroactively, makes clear the true significance of what’s been there all along.
5:26 PM
Like a shitty film twist.
5:27 PM
Is this why I’ve failed so miserably? Because I was unable to put into concrete terms what I wanted? No, I always knew this, kind of, I just thought it was, like, normal? Maybe?
5:28 PM
If I were one of those hypersexual feminists with pronouns and flag emote in their bio or whatever, would something have happened by now?
5:28 PM
I don’t… think so.
5:29 PM
Or maybe I do think so. But the question is what’s wrong. If I were that… I wouldn’t be me. Because I’m me…. I would never have been that.
5:31 PM
Why do we want what we can’t have? Why did early humans look at the sky and think, oh man, I’d love to go up there, like a fucking idiot?
5:31 PM
Sure, we can do that now. But was it worth the millennia of unresolved longing?
5:32 PM
Hey.
5:33 PM
When people are in a couple.
5:33 PM
Do they… sleep together?
5:33 PM
Not the innuendo. Just what those words literally mean. I mean, obviously they do, I’m just, only thinking about it now.
5:35 PM
Uh… ah. I wonder if that would be annoying, if I did that. Or if I’d be able to put up with it. Maybe it’s a little warmer, even. Someone closer to you. I bet cavemen or whatever slept in groups. Not even just a romance thing. Makes more sense to have more people that have a chance to be alerted. (edited)
5:36 PM
Hey. We’re all we have, right? You’re still there, Dana Craig. Can you answer me?
5:38 PM
Do people who have nothing… do they have nothing because that’s what they deserve? When cause and effect remains logical and your outcome depends on your efforts, is everything just? When you don’t get… anything. That’s just how it has to be? Dana? Come on. I have to have somewhere to keep this train of thought going, right? Is there no hope for anyone?
5:39 PM
…
5:39 PM
But it’s still just me. Just a weird act of self-pity. I don’t know what answer to say. Or think. None of us have actually ā€œsaidā€ anything, obviously.
5:41 PM
I do make a few real and audible noises in the middle of the night, curled up as if trying to make all of my body as close to itself as possible. It’s quiet. They’re not worth describing. I’m not going to remember what those noises were in the morning. I’m going to be pissed if I retain this in the morning.
5:42 PM
At some point, my brain decides that’s enough, and I lose consciousness.
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((The chapter ends))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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7: Associated Gangsters
šŸ‘Ž 3
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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((Ok ten minutes or less before my flight departs check out this progress:)) I wake up.
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Dana does indeed wake up in her room.
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Good morning, room.
2:03 PM
Anyway, back to it. I check my phone. ((this is the last message I will send unless the flight has functioning wifi))
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((šŸ‘‹ bye. What exactly is she looking at))
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((Hi.)) For text messages, voicemail, the social medias. That sort of thing. Probably nothing important.
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Nothing new.
4:06 PM
There's a knock on her door. "Hey, Dana?" It's Ariel. She sounds worried.
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I slowly open the door. ā€œYes?ā€
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"What should I do?" She displays a twitter message reading:
I am the man in the car from yesterday. I was serious when said your friend is in danger. She doesn't take me seriously, but are you fine letting her die? If you are willing to discuss this, answer me. If you don't answer by 2 PM today I will count that as a refusal. I am a busy man.
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ā€œWhat?ā€ Oh. Sean Niebel. ā€œI don’t know. His demands from yesterday are unreasonable. We’re criminals, and I’m not making him an accomplice. No idea who he even is. If we could fish for information from him, that would be nice. I have my doubts.ā€
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"So should I ignore it?"
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ā€œSure. That’s my opinion.ā€
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"Alright." She smiled and put away her phone.
4:36 PM
"Morning." Howard came from down the hall.
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ā€œHello.ā€
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"Hi." Ariel. "So, what’d you 2 learn?" Howard.
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ā€œA lot. Not much I’d imagine you don’t already know, though.ā€ I take a deep breath. ā€œNiebel’s a pain in the ass. Managed to find the guy, but it was a waste. Couldn’t get anything useful out of him, nor have I thought of a more clever way to look into him. I doubt he’s more than incidental, though; looking into whatever is going on with his associated business nowadays would be more meaningful.ā€ ā€œGrobber, though—Grobber was incredibly cooperative. Poor sap had no idea he’d been taken advantage of, and we quickly put things together. Gus entered his house personally, while an accomplice distracted Grobber. He did something or other and now the money there is gone. Probably a computer thing.ā€ I look down and put my hand to my chin. ā€œI’ve mostly run around in circles to confirm what you had already told me at the start. Gus Amon, a former officer with criminal connections, embezzled money from Niebel and Grobber, and Shuichi Maoziwam reaped the benefits. I don’t know what connection the two have or what exists as a motive. The only loose end is that accomplice. Carolyn Blythe. A therapist. Aided in part of this scheme. Gus died right in front of her, supposedly. Don’t know if she was ā€˜just’ under duress or something more, but it’s worth looking into her.ā€ (edited)
5:00 PM
ā€œI have a question of my own, while we’re at it. Might or might not be related. What do you know about Jeff Johnner?ā€
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"So you already found the Carolyn connection, huh? Good job." Howard.
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ā€œNot the first to get there, clearly.ā€
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"Considering she had her client beat me with a chair, no. Not the first."
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I stare at him.
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"Carolyn killed Gus. But she did it on the orders of Jeff Johnner and the man above him. That’s who we’re after."
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ā€œMakes sense. Thanks for whatever the hell yesterday was.ā€
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"I hoped they had some leads, but that’s that I guess…" He sighs. "You’ve got the day off, then. I don’t have any other leads to give you either."
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ā€œI see. I’ve a few curiosities I’ll look into on my own time. Turns out I have more of a stake in this case than I thought. No promises, though.ā€
5:39 PM
ā€œUh, anything to add, Ariel?ā€ I recall her existence.
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"Not really." Ariel.
5:44 PM
Howard sighs. "I can see the duo was really needed."
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ā€œShe’s… it can be vital to have a second person around.ā€
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"Can it? Aren't you afraid of being stabbed in the back? Either of you." Howard.
5:48 PM
"Dana wouldn't do that to me." Ariel.
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ā€œYeah.ā€ Yeah
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"How can you be sure, is all I'm asking. Allies are a means to an end. If it suited them, anyone on this planet would stab their best friend in the back. Some people are just open about it."
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ā€œWell, no. I’m not sure. And I try to minimize risks, certainly. But someone so paranoid about possible misfortune just isn’t going to get anything done, ever. It’s about sussing out what risks are worth taking. Intuition, call it.ā€
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"Intuition, huh? I call it a hunch. And you’ll come to realize that any hunch beyond suspicion and pessimism is wrong." Howard. "Isn’t that a strange thing to tell someone you want to work for you?" Ariel.
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ā€œI’d be annoyed if this was your clever way of announcing you’re going to arrest me or whatever.ā€
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"...Heh. As if. Like I said, you're beneficial. It'd just hurt me to try something dumb here." Howard.
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ā€œGood. I don’t know what to tell you. Sorry for whatever your story might be, but I’m careful enough for my own standards on who I choose to partner with.ā€
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"There's no such thing as careful enough. All people are the same at heart. Every human on the planet wants what's best for them. Those we hate and those we love, we use them to our own ends. Forever. Nothing wrong with that, really. It's just human nature. Nature you ought to understand." Howard.
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ā€œUh. Yes? That sounds about right to me, yeah.ā€
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"Then why do you feel so comfortable with Ariel around. Are you expecting to be first on the draw?" Howard. "Dana just understands that people can be more selfless than you think." Ariel. "Does she, now?" Howard.
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ā€œI have confidence in my appraisal of others. Whatever you want to call it — selflessness, maybe — it’s still rooted in those same patterns of human behavior. If someone saves my life but they do it for PR, they still saved my life. Motive is tangential to outcome. I mean, animals will behave that way even more directly, acting in their own interest and survival. Does that mean a farmer or shepherd needs to constantly fear betrayal? Absurd.ā€
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"I agree, in a sense. But it helps to know that everyone who's nice to you does it because it benefits them. It helps when you've gotta stab em in the back. Or when you've gotta make them put a gun in their own mouth, huh? All humans are equally awful. Means there's no one who can really blame you if you decide you prefer run a 1 person show." Howard. "Dana wouldn't do that!" Ariel. "She's so stubborn on this. What the hell'd you to her? Is this another one of your magic abilities? Creepily unending loyalty?" Howard.
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Truth be told, I don’t understand either. Why Ariel is like this. I’ve felt uneasy about it before, but what can I do? If she betrays me, I’ll have to deal with that when it happens. ā€œDon’t you have anything better to do? I’m not sure what the goal of this conversation is. I in particular need a second set of eyes and ears for the way I do things. You’re not going to change that, and I’m not going to find anyone better.ā€
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"To be honest, I just don't trust her. You, you're confrontational and incredible stupid... But you're smart enough to not get yourself killed. You know not to risk a fight with me if it isn't worth it. But her? She either really is dumb enough to blow herself up for no cause at all, or she's slipped right through your defenses to get whatever she wants."
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ā€œI’ve always preferred the card games that give the joker a role.ā€
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"And which of you's the joker here? Cause I don't see anyone laughing at her." Howard. "Come on, Dana... You trust me, right?" Ariel.
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I awkwardly turn towards Ariel, avoiding meeting her eyes. ā€œI’m not quite so soft as to word it that way. But I don’t doubt my conclusions. You’re the most reliable person I know.ā€ I return to Howard. ā€œFor Ariel to be working against my interest, she would need a motive. She’s cooperated with me thus far, so I would assume this would be something to come up abruptly. So what, is it money? That strikes me as ridiculous. She knows I have latent potential for success that she doesn’t alone. No offer could make up for the cost of losing me, if we’re speaking purely rationally. So is it justice? Or fear? I did briefly think she may have done something suspect when you approached me yesterday, but we’re definitely beyond something like that. It’s unthinkable Ariel would trust someone else claiming they would only target me when she’s been aligned with me every step of the way. All that remains is a matter of principles; that she’d betray me not via harming me directly but by going against my values and beliefs. Yet that can’t happen. I don’t have any. Not anything greater I strive for.ā€ I smirk. ā€œIf we’re talking likelihood for who is likely to fuck me over with what I’ve given them, you’re much higher, and I don’t even think you’d deny that. So if you’re trying to divide and conquer, give it a rest. And if you’re earnestly afraid of Ariel May, take note of the fact that she’d only strike you in retaliation.ā€
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Ariel smiles at what Dana says. "Alright, your loss. I can't claim to have an explanation for why she'd do anything either. Just keep an eye out." Howard.
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ā€œMm.ā€
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"Oh, and you spoke to Kingsley right? He may be dumber than Ariel, but that's useful. Don't find a way to fuck that up. Last thing either of us need is a Kingsley who thinks he's good for anything."
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ā€œIs that so? Well, alright.ā€ I’m absolutely finding a way to fuck that up, I’m afraid.
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"Have a good day, Dana. Enjoy your rewards for today, I suppose." Howard left.
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ā€œNot much of a moodmaker, clearly.ā€ I mutter after he’s gone.
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"Dana, you do trust me, right? You weren't just saying that because he was there... Right? Because I really am with you."
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ā€œā€¦Yeah. I do.ā€
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"I don't think I'd have what it takes to make it on my own. You're special like that."
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ā€œMaybe.ā€ Definitely, but that would be weird for me to say to her.
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Ariel hugs Dana suddenly.
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hhhrhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhghhhhhh
9:12 PM
I
9:12 PM
I
9:12 PM
Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
9:14 PM
It’s fine. It’s just a gesture of affection. It’s not anything drastic. It’s just her being overly sentimental. Like the type of person she is. Like she always is. No matter what. Just to anyone. Orienting the interaction to a domain under her control. She. Uh, well, she
9:16 PM
I kiss her, then back away, breaking out of her grasp.
9:16 PM
What?
9:16 PM
I retreat into my room and slam the door shut.
9:16 PM
What the fuck?
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She stares in shock too as Dana retreats.
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Okay. This is… no, this is workable. I just need… I need to make sure I know what I’m… going.
9:21 PM
I go over the factors of uncertainty. So is she, uh, one of them? One of me, like, ah… I mean, she was always so touchy feely, it was almost creepy, but if I read that wrong, I’m going to need to do a lot of recovery. Uh…
9:22 PM
Mats Rumen, though. Her ex. But does that say anything? He wasn’t seeing her anymore. Maybe that was a reason it fell apart.
9:25 PM
The idea of killing a man so hard I turn his girlfriend gay is intriguing. Hah, just… joking summary. Crazy how my life has gotten as of late. Is something going wrong? It’s like… I might be ill. She can’t have injured me, right? It wasn’t that intense of an embrace. I feel faint. Like I haven’t eaten in… Wow, I really haven’t eaten in… a while. Did I even eat anything yesterday? I must’ve been so caught up with everything happening I forgot.
9:27 PM
I check my fridge, knowing it contains nothing edible. I should really throw those leftovers out. Can’t even tell what that meal was anymore.
9:28 PM
I take a bottle of beer from the fridge. This isn’t food.
9:28 PM
But, next best thing. I imbibe.
9:29 PM
I mean, it’s not water. Like, there’s more nutritional to it than just nothing. I mean maybe not, in a way that’s GOOD for me, but there’s like, a substance there. I think.
9:31 PM
Yeast! Yeast. It’s like… water plus alcohol. That’s makes it a drink. Since pure alcohol would just kill you. And then wateralcohol plus yeast, that’s how it gets to be beer. So this is sort of like bread. I just get a little… a little dizzy if I have too much too fast. Y’know? Hah. Obviously I know. I’m thinking to myself. It’s obviously less filling than solid food, though.
9:32 PM
So I should probably have more to compensate.
9:32 PM
That makes sense.
9:34 PM
I take another… two more bottles. I mean, I guess. Sure. This is what’s happening now. This is the day. Isn’t it… it’s like, still the morning. Shouldn’t really be doing this right now.
9:35 PM
But, what can you do! Can’t leave to get food. She might be still outside my door, maybe. Would she? Erm. Hm. That seems a little excessive.
9:36 PM
Maybe it’s like it’s a… catch twenty one. Because if she’s standing there to see me, then she’s is kindaaa obsessed with me! Even after I did that. But if she’s not. Then she isn’t so, things with us would be weirder? But she wouldn’t be there so it would be! Fine!!!
9:39 PM
Catch twenty… it’s twenty two and it’s the bad thing when neither situation works for you. But this is the opposite, a ā€œwin winā€ as they say. But catch twenty one is funnier soooooo screw the mainstream media. I laugh at my good joke.
9:43 PM
I stop after drinking. Uh. Three… ah… six seve… All of them. All the ones I had. That’s fine. It’s fine. Can’t just stay holed up in here forever, like a little BITCH. Someday you need to, you have to face the music. Make the world your (see the earlier BITCH)! Okay. Here I go.
9:43 PM
!
9:43 PM
I stand up. On my feet.
9:43 PM
I put my feet. I keep them on the ground.
9:44 PM
Just gonna stand here a few seconds. Make sure I have my bearings.
9:45 PM
I look if… the little thingy. To see if someone’s at my door now.
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Ariel is still outside. She's smiling brightly.
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Wowww… that’s crazy. Shes crazy. She’s like… she doesn’t exist when I’m not looking. The philosophy thing. But maybe I’m crazy also. We’re a little… everyboby twisted. Human nature, like oishi said.
9:54 PM
I open the door. ā€œHiā€
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"Hi! Are you okay, Dana? You seemed panicked, so I was worried. I don't think I'm that much of a prize, am I?"
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ā€œI’m doing… quite well, truthfully. Truthly… What should be asked. Are YOU doing okay.ā€
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"I'm doing great! I was starting to worry you didn't actually like me back."
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I stand there silently for a few seconds at this. ā€œSo mine… reactions was very insppopiate. I took a step too far. And im sorry but i needed to know. Because of the FUCKER detective i was thinking. Why you do anything that you do ever.? And why to is. Help me.ā€ I put my hand on her shoulder. ā€œApril. No one has relied on me … ever. So when you’d said that you need me for. I thought. Well okay she’s just saying that. But then you’rent?ā€ I shake my head. ā€œThat’s irrevelent. So if you mean that I think we’ll, then you are just wrong. But maybe. I mean that doesn’t matter, yea? Like when people think things about other people, if it’s wrong is like… that’s not the part to makeā€¦ā€ I laugh indignantly. ā€œAnd whose it that says that’s wrong? Because maybe, im actually great? And the world just doesn’t get that. Maybe they shouldn’t. The world doesn’t matter. Society and. Of course my STUPID WASTE OF A JOB. Doesn’t matter. All that matters. For a guy. It’s that you have one guy. Who gets your whole plans. You feel me?ā€
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"Y-Yeah, Dana. I feel you."
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ā€œApril m.. Ariel May. I would like to request that I… that instead of. I would like to formerly request, instead of being your dead boyfriend. To be your alive boyfriend.girl.ā€ I cough. ā€œNo. I’m… make the dream you wish to. It is a STATEMENT OF TRUTH, not question. I say now, and make into real with my words. I am going to be. The things I just said. If that’s is okay with you?ā€
10:21 PM
ā€œI think I’m going to faint.ā€
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Ariel gently pats Dana on the head for some reason. "Alright. I'm glad, Dana." She's smiling, but suppressing a clear confused discomfort.
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I faint.
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((End session))
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homestuck implied??? And with the desperate soul thief’s inebriated descent into the floor of a mediocre dwelling within the labyrinthine streets of Avengard, and with awkward fauxmance teetering between PC and NPC, we are ready to bid adieu to this vignette of hyperimportant fucking around on the pitch-perfect note of a single textbook deployment of the rare yet highly embarrassing DRUNK HAPPEN xDANA CRAIGIGAS. And once again we find ourselves poised to attempt to exit this chapter prematurely, while forgetting to address exactly no loose ends whatsoever. You open the chapter tiermaker to find a list that only goes up to 6, and are shocked completely by it, as usual.
SPOILER
Image attachment
10:28 PM
And there you have it. Literally the worst session end in AG to date, hands down.
SPOILER
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((Saturday))
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attempt
10:03 AM
all of these are real
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((Where did you GET these))
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((my mind))
10:04 AM
((ok where’s my fucking money Denny is a line from the room))
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((I assume Kingsley's is like MHA or something???))
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((I don’t think anyone in MHA says this. I do not think there’s an MHA title drop))
10:06 AM
((If there is that’s awesome))
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Dana wakes up in Ariel's bed. She’s cuddling her previously unconscious body.
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I slowly sit up. Wow. I do not feel good. Should’ve seen that coming. Mm.
2:08 PM
I don’t think I’m sober yet. Couldn’t be. I guess I don’t know how long I’ve been out. None of this feels real.
2:08 PM
I said some things I should probably…
2:09 PM
What? Take back? Are you fucking kidding? This isn’t the kind of situation where that applies.
2:09 PM
I wanted this, anyway. Right?
2:09 PM
I guess I did. Or something like it.
2:11 PM
Do I even KNOW her, really?
2:12 PM
I guess I don’t need to. This isn’t a fuckin’ marriage or whatever. It’s entry level. Just seeing what could happen. It’s fine. I’m fine.
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Ariel smiles. "You’re awake."
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ā€œUh. Yeah. For better or worse. …How long’s it been?ā€
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"A few hours, I think. I didn’t really check."
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ā€œKay.ā€ Let’s see… I don’t really have anything to do today. It’s uncomfortable. As much as I hated it, I guess I’d grown to rely on the routine of labor as my norm. With extra free time I’d normally get in touch with some friends, but… Grace is a non-option. I guess I could see if other people are available, but that would be… the wrong move right at this moment. I think. I’ve settled on not spending extraneous time outside for the near future, but I did want to… Wait. I tense up a bit. Do I have the notebook on my person?
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Dana does not have the notebook on her person.
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Fuck. I get out of bed and head over to my room. ā€œUh, be right back in a second.ā€ I quickly mumble to Ariel.
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"Okay."
2:30 PM
Dana's room is normal.
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I quickly tear the place apart to make sure I haven’t misplaced the tome.
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It’s where she left it.
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I sigh. I really need to stop being so neurotic about this. I make sure it’s put in as secure of a place as it can be within my domicile. I tear off a page from it before putting it away and shove it in my pocket. No idea if this works, probably worth testing, but it did in Death Note. Now…
2:40 PM
Is she going to ask what I rushed away for? She’s weirdly touchy about the ā€œriskā€ I take using that. Maybe better to not bring it up. But she’s bound to have questions if I return from my room with nothing. Uh. I change my clothes. That makes sense as a reason. I put on what I deem to be my nicest outfit out of the available wardrobe. ((Dana Craig does not have nice outfits.)) Okay. I head back to Ariel’s room with the page and my regular belongings, phone et al.
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Ariel waves.
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ā€œHey.ā€ I sit down. That’s a weird thing to say. Just… hey? Overly casual. I mean, what am I supposed to say? In this context? Whatever this context is?
2:45 PM
I wanted to… research Leiblinc and Jim Gordon or whatever. But honestly, I don’t fucking care about the former. Scott can deal with whatever that shit is. No idea how I would even begin to look into the latter. Can’t even remember his name. Names. Fuck. I forgot to push the detective more firmly on the Johnner front. Ugh.
2:45 PM
ā€œAre you doing anything today, Ariel?ā€
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"Not really."
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ā€œI see.ā€ I shift uncomfortably in the whatever I’m sitting. ā€œBut like, what do you want t… what would you do today if I wasn’t around?ā€
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"I’d probably wait. I don’t have anything else exciting going on."
2:52 PM
Dana gets a text.
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I check my phone.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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'Going to talk to Fredrick Wight about the crimes. Someone Grace is interested in. Will wire back later.' From the Fungus.
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I see. Sean Niebel was a dead end. Nearly shot me. I don’t have any more information for you at this point, aside from that Carolyn might be connected to Johnner. And her client beat someone up with a chair? That part might be bullshit. Let me know who Fredrick Wight is when you’re done.
I send back. At least someone’s keeping busy.
3:03 PM
I look up Fredrick Wight, though I doubt it would be that easy.
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Fredrick Wight is a News-host for the extremely pro-Belto Shelk news station Free News Network.
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Got it. Who cares.
3:17 PM
I don't even think I could name a single one of Shelk's positions.
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God, this is awkward.
3:26 PM
"But like... wait for what?"
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"You."
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I look down. "No, that's not what I meant. Like, I'm out of the picture. I don't exist. What do you like to do with your free time?"
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"I’d probably look for someone to be you."
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"Huh?"
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"What’s confusing?"
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"How does someone be me?"
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"Well, they can be with me like you are. And they can help me be someone important."
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"Ah."
3:44 PM
I'm a... mhrk.
3:44 PM
A means to an end.
3:44 PM
It could've been anyone.
3:44 PM
Oh, shut up! But it was me!
3:45 PM
What about this is the problem? Everyone acts for their own self-interest. Are you going to say you aren't also like this?
3:46 PM
Yeah. I am. But I'm not trying to take some moral high ground. I'm fucking complaining. I'm allowed to do that.
3:47 PM
Internal complaining. At least. This is literally the best you can ever get, in this department. If you're still unsatisfied, maybe it's not for you.
3:49 PM
I guess I'm just in shock.
3:52 PM
Whenever I finally made some kind of move, I thought there'd be an elaborate social cold war. Maybe that's the issue. That was sort of the... appeal, with Angela. The contrast between how she currently exists and what she could exist as. Was that what I was actually after? The struggle itself, rather than just an immediate result?
3:52 PM
Mmgh.
3:54 PM
I smirk. Well, they're two problems that cancel each other out. You want a challenge? That statement earlier is one. I need to make her love me. Not the person who spends time with her. Me. Dana Craig. That will be my conquest. Just another avenue of my life to strategize on, no different from all these mysteries.
3:56 PM
It's best not to get all soul-searchy about what things 'mean'. Taking an objective look at what I have to do for a defined result is the most reasonable course of action, and if the history of humanity is anything to go by, something greater will be an emergent property of that process. I mean, maybe. None of these words actually mean anything.
3:58 PM
If it doesn't? Then she wasn't the one. I try again, find someone else, with this as experience. As long as I understand what I'm aiming for, I can't lose. It's best to settle on a decision sooner than later, though. No real red flags from Ariel yet, so I'll keep going.
4:01 PM
What does she WANT? Well, she more or less just told me. To be near someone. To matter.
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Ariel waits patiently for Dana to complete this mental journey.
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I mean, she seems pretty content right now. Low standards.
4:03 PM
I don’t know how I can excel at such a bare minimum. Maybe that’s not the way. Maybe I should just convince her no one else can provide this the way I can. That there never would be someone else to ā€˜be me’.
4:08 PM
Damaging her ego would do that, but obviously that makes people not like you. It would be idiotic. I’m not against something like that in principle, though; so long as we stay together and it’s not any kind of explicit malice, she doesn’t need to worry about that kind of thing. And she’d bounce back fine, I’m sure, if this fell apart. She oughta be tougher than she looks. I look around the room.
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It’s a fairly plain apartment. The kind that thinks ā€˜live laugh love' counts as decoration.
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My eyes eventually settle on Ariel herself, as I resort to my last option. ā€œSo. Do you play genshin often?ā€
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"Daily."
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ā€œYeah. …Yeah. That like a PVP thing? I’ve never actually played.ā€
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"Not really." Ariel proceeds to provide a needlessly detailed summary of Genshin Gay Baby Jail.
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I feel enlightened. I’ll remember this.
4:30 PM
ā€œUh, I’m gonna go grocery shopping. You want me to get or do anything, while I’m heading out anyway?ā€
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"I’m alright."
4:32 PM
"But thank you."
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ā€œOkay.ā€ I’m going to leave this room probably best not to overwhelm her with too much of me at once anyway
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The hallway is clear.
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Wew. I really do need to get groceries. Can’t hole up and minimize how much I go outside without being able to eat. I guess I’ll also stop by my old workplace while I’m at it. I’ll head to the convenience store first so that I can head straight home when I have stuff to carry.
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Angela is working the counter and looks annoyed out of her mind. The sight is strangely pitiable.
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Yikes.
4:49 PM
ā€œHello.ā€
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"Oh, good. You’re finally here." She moved away from the counter. "You do it."
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ā€œIt’s Sunday. Wasn’t this not even part of my shift schedule?ā€
4:55 PM
I’m incredibly uncomfortable with this interaction suddenly.
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"Yeah. And you bought the store somehow. I thought we were beyond the bounds of logic enough for you to not expect me to do this."
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ā€œHow could this place possibly be understaffed? It’s a zero experience job in a populated city. Have we just not bothered looking for more people?ā€
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ā€œIf you want to conduct interviews, go ahead."
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ā€œSure. It’s just a matter of putting up a Craigslist listing, or whatever. This place has a computer, right?ā€
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"It’s in the back."
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ā€œRight.ā€ Because this is now what the story is about, I approach the referenced computer and attempt to undergo the process for a job listing on LinkedIn & analogous. It requests someone for a cashier and someone for a restock worker. Pretty sure discriminating on shit like age or whatever is against the law, so I’ll leave it all undefined. I add some generic descriptions of what makes someone a good fit for the role, such as ā€œteam playerā€ or ā€œfriendly personalityā€. This is the most important action to take.
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The job listing is created.
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Wow. Awesome. I guess that’s something to keep track of.
5:38 PM
Now how exactly do I get Angela off my back for today…?
5:40 PM
I head back to the front.
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"Oh, you actually did it."
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ā€œYeah. I mean, place needs to keep running. Are we so volatile that closing it for today would screw us? ā€˜Cause I don’t particularly care if you leave.ā€
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"You’re firing me?"
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I laugh. ā€œNo, that’s not what I meant. I’d be pretty stupid to intentionally do that. I just meant going home for the day.ā€
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"Oh. Cool." She immediately leaves.
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Conversation success. Wonder where the other guy is. The old guy. I’ve yet to see them at the same time. Fritz. Yeah. Fritz Smith. No, that’s not it. It was something with a B for the last name. Was he even Fritz? I think he was. It was an F first name, at the very least. I know his initials. Awesome. Anyway, I flip over the door sign or whatever the fuck to signify we’re closed.
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Then I go buy groceries. That's it that's all I do
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Groceries are indeed purchased.
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Another win for our modern economy. Long live capitalism
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Is Dana doing anything else or.
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Nah I'm good
7:51 PM
then she returns to her home.
7:51 PM
i do that
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Dana returns to her apartment. It continues to be normal and empty.
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Man.
7:52 PM
What am I even doing.
7:52 PM
((End session.))
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((No session this week))
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((Saturday))
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Dana returns to her apartment. It continues to be normal and empty.
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Awesome.
2:33 PM
I attempt to look up ā€œJeff Johnnerā€. I can’t remember if I had anything I wanted to do.
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((Roll))
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((19))
3:38 PM
((breakneck pace))
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Jeff Johnner is the largely suspected leader of the mafia in Avengard. He has no known address or anything like that. There are a ton of insane conspiracy theories about him.
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Nothing useful. Damn.
3:39 PM
Let’s see…
3:42 PM
I think things over while putting away my groceries. Angela is clueless. Either she’s quite good at acting or she isn’t directly involved with any of this. It’s unfortunate, but I have to admit that she’s irrelevant.
3:44 PM
I still have Carolyn to think about. But Howard might have that handled. Best not to get involved.
3:46 PM
This mafia shit is infuriating, but there’s really no way to look into them. They’d have been caught if there was publicly available information of any use about them. All I can hope is that I get better at fishing info from my one link to law enforcement.
3:46 PM
Two links, I guess. Kingsley is a valuable piece in all this if I’m smart about it.
3:53 PM
I don’t think the Nathan Smith thing mattered at all but I can’t stop myself from keeping it in mind. All those people— Well, no, one of them was him! How could I forget?!
3:54 PM
Does this actually mean anything? I should probably try again to get into contact with him. Maybe the two are acquainted?
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There’s audible arguing from Ariel's apartment.
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Sean Niebel’s a dead end. I’m not bothering with that. And… I sigh. Ariel. The one person not hiding anything. I wanted to leave well enough alone today, but something’s clearly happening. I head over to Ariel’s apartment.
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An older man Dana doesn’t recognize is arguing with Ariel, who is responding by being Ariel May.
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What are they arguing about
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"You’re buying it? Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t even have a job if your parents didn’t force me to hire you. You'd still be a pathetic boy if your revolving door of sugar daddies didn’t pay it all for you! And now you’re making some man buy my store for you? I’m a tolerant man, been nothing but respectful to your identity… I didn’t even fire you when you continued to be a terrible employee… But this? You pull this on me? You’re barking up the wrong tree." The man. "…Sorry. I really didn’t mean it that way. Is there anything I could do to make you feel better?" Ariel.
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I freeze up. She’s — Ariel’s… I feel faint. I don’t know what this is. I don’t know what to do. Is this the truth? Is she lying to me? And using me somehow, like Rumen? I don’t… I want to get out of here. I need to get out of here. No! No you fucking don’t! Even if this is a disaster, an ending, you’re gonna be here for it! It didn’t feel real, right?! That cozy nonsense earlier today was a facsimile of a real connection. But this — for better or worse, this will be real. Right. Right… I’ve come in at an advantage. I know quite a bit about both of them now, whereas this man shouldn’t know me at all. I lean against a wall to support myself, recovering from the near breakdown. I make it look cool and intentional, though, like I’m super casual. ā€œI’m pretty sure there’s something in the lease about being disruptive enough to be heard from outside. What’s this, then?ā€
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"Who are you?" The man turns around. "Oh, that’s my girlfriend. Dana." Ariel. "And how’s her wallet doing now?" The man.
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ā€œI’m doing alright for myself, thanks.ā€
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The man turns back to Ariel, but lowers his voice as requested. "The point is… Take this all back. Your life's only worth minimum wage. You know that. Don’t take this store away from me." "Isn’t the money enough? I can just ask Howard to send more if you-" Ariel. "Not if it’s from you." The man.
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ā€œI don’t know if we went over this. What store did you work for? I thought it was just some general store.ā€
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"His store." Ariel. "It’s a department store. I put a lot of work into running it. My job is all I have, you know? I can’t let her run the place into the ground because her latest boyfriend had a little too much spending money!" The man. "I’ll make sure it doesn’t get run into the ground. I promise." Ariel. "You and what business savvy?" The man.
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ā€œMaybe you should get a hobby.ā€
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"Maybe you should get a job." The man.
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ā€œI’ve got one. At least. Maybe two, depending on how you count it? Not sure. Weren’t you just trying to imply something about my finances?ā€
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"A warning." The man. "It’s alright, she doesn’t need a warning. I wouldn’t take anything from her without her giving it." Ariel.
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ā€œYou’ve got a pretty warped perspective on all of this. My relationship with Ariel, besides being none of your business, isn’t like that. And if it was; if it revolves around her being financially dependent on me, in what sense would that be me that is being taken advantage of?ā€
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"But if it did need to be like that, you’d help, right? It’s not like I have anyone else to turn to." Ariel. "How about a job?" The man.
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ā€œI probably would. Though if I end up in a state where I can only provide for myself, that’s what I’d do.ā€ I turn to the man. ā€œDid you expect things to be fair? For the work you put into this venture to pay off?ā€
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"The world may be cruel sometimes. But that doesn’t mean you get to do it to me too. I’m not like you losers. I put in my work. I don’t post thirst trap selfies in the middle of work." The man.
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I cackle. "Losers? From where I'm standing, it seems like that's you." My expression returns to a vaguely annoyed default. "You can either complain like a self-righteous bitch or get on your knees and beg like a coward. You don't get to do both. Pick a side! Now! Are you trying to get something out of Ariel, or are you trying to insult her?! Because if you don't make up your mind, I'm not going to let you do either."
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"Fine. Get used by her. Let’s see how you feel about this conversation when you can’t afford her anymore." The man. "Oh, don’t be like that…" Ariel gives him a hug, like one she’d give Dana. He is very uncomfortable at this. "I’m sure we can help each other here."
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I'm very uncomfortable at this.
6:44 PM
"This isn't worth the effort." I attempt to grab Ariel by the hand.
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"But if he gets mad and calls my parents, I don’t want them to get involved here-" Ariel.
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"He won't. That won't happen. Trust me."
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"Alright." She lets go of him. "Don’t be so confident." The man.
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ā€œI’m always confident. Bit of a quirk of mine.ā€
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"Society went down the drain once you kids started treating flaws like quirks." The man.
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ā€œMm. And which would you consider getting attached to a department store?ā€
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He left.
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ā€œGood riddance.ā€ I turn back to Ariel. ā€œWho exactly was that?ā€
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"My boss. Or, my old boss now I guess."
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ā€œThat part I could have guessed. Why does he know your parents?ā€
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"He’s their friend. I got this job through them. He’s always been hung up on that, for some reason."
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ā€œUnusual.ā€ I meant I wanted a name, Ariel. Though… to do what, I don’t know.
7:23 PM
I shouldn’t have gone in so strong there. That’s a promise I can’t keep. Realistically, if he’s gonna call Ariel’s parents, there’s nothing I can do to stop him that won’t make things much worse for everyone.
7:25 PM
I can be there supportively if they do get involved, and I feel decent about my odds in that encounter. But even nominally breaching my trust is less than ideal.
7:27 PM
Trying to take my mind off many things, I check my phone. Several seconds later, I perform a sigh groan combination. Timeline permitting, I text Grobber ā€œdude wtf did you doā€.
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No response.
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I turn back to Ariel and just awkwardly look at her for a bit. ā€œAre you… not on the best of terms with them?ā€
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"Not… Really. But it’s alright. I’ve got plenty of love in my life since then." She smiled.
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ā€œOkay.ā€ I sit down. ā€œI don’t really keep in touch with my folks either. Though, I guess I can’t say for sure what they think of me.ā€
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"I guess we’re the same, then." She sits next to Dana.
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ā€œI don’t think they hated me enough, really. I spent too long relying on them. I’ve had to play catch-up the past few years.ā€
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"I don’t really think it’s too big of a crime to rely on someone."
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ā€œNot a crime, no. But it’sā€¦ā€ I shift my position, suddenly having lost track of what stance I was going to express. ā€œI wasn’t good at it, is the problem. I wasn’t deftly maneuvering through a social situation. I was taking advantage of lenience afforded to me by default. And that’s fine if and only if it’s something you can really rely on. But it wasn’t permanent. Obviously.ā€
8:11 PM
ā€œYou’ve got things figured out, I think. If I fuck off or die or cross you, you have what it takes to bounce back eventually. That’s not — uh — I can’t ride changing circumstances that way. I take root in a lifestyle and then it only changes catastrophically.ā€ (edited)
8:13 PM
ā€œI had to get shot twice to get a girlfriend.ā€
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She hugs Dana. "But you’ve got me now."
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I grimace. ā€œSure. Now. But Iā€¦ā€ I need this a lot more than you need me. And that’s terrifying.
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"There there." Ariel pats her on the head.
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Okay, now it’s starting to feel condescending. ā€œā€¦Eh. Whatever. Just feeling weird today, I guess.ā€
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"Maybe you should do something to get your mind off things. You haven’t done anything with that book in a while, have you?"
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ā€œYeah, I haven’t had anything to do. I got myself all psyched up for a plan the other day only for it not to work.ā€
8:26 PM
…
8:26 PM
I wrote Ariel May’s name. That worked. So…
8:27 PM
ā€œI’m wondering if I might’ve overlooked something very important.ā€
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"What is it?"
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ā€œI don’t really know. I’m just wondering what exactly someone’s ā€˜name’ is. It’s not always clear cut, and this thing didn’t come with any explanation at all. I’ve only figured out the things I do know via trial and error.ā€
8:29 PM
ā€œI certainly wrote down the name the man introduced himself with and other people recognized. But that wasn’t good enough.ā€
8:30 PM
ā€œI’ve thought he might be off-limits entirely, which bothers me. It highlights the fact that I’m entirely reliant on things that are sourced from a party I have no clue on the motives of.ā€ (edited)
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"I’m not even sure Ehn really has any motives. Sometimes people just act for no reason."
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ā€œOn the simplest level, I don’t think Ehn quite acts randomly. Even ignoring its words, there are several things that make it clear there’s at least patterns to what it wants. The bank robbery, for one; you’re telling me people with supernatural abilities just happen to show up guarding the place? No. Ehn orchestrated it.ā€
8:38 PM
ā€œIt could just be for entertainment. Just seeing what happens.ā€
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"Hm… Well, when we talked, she just kept trying to make me do something for her entertainment. So that sounds right to me. …Doing things only for something like that makes me think of a child though. It’s kind of sad thinking of it like this."
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ā€œI think that’s the natural consequence of having so much power.ā€
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"Really?"
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ā€œI don’t know where Ehn comes from or if it was created with some purpose, but being an untouchable semi tangible god cat who can give people superpowers seems like it incentivizes you to do just that.ā€
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"Well, I’ve never met anyone like her, so I wouldn’t know."
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ā€œI guess.ā€ Yeah.
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"Hm… But if she’s lonely, maybe you should do something entertaining for her?"
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ā€œI don’t particularly care how Ehn feels. We have a deal I’m still vaguely obligated towards. If Ehn wants a favor then… she can ask.ā€
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"Alright then."
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((yeah))
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((End session?))
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((Saturday))
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"Alright then."
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((forgot about this give me a sec))
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…Nothing.
2:20 PM
I have nothing to say.
2:21 PM
Do I still not trust her enough? That family stuff was a deeper cut than I’ve ever said to anyone.
2:21 PM
Well, of course I don’t trust her.
2:22 PM
I don’t trust anyone. But past that, she… she lied to me.
2:22 PM
About… I mean, when she accepted what I said, there was an assumption…
2:22 PM
Agh!
2:23 PM
Are you really so fucking incompetent that you can’t even be satisfied with this for a day?
2:23 PM
But the circumstances have changed.
2:25 PM
I can’t be here. I get up. ā€œGotta go.ā€
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"Alright. See you later."
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Not interested in following. Good. I guess. I head back over to my home, firstly.
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It's just as she left it.
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I search for Ariel May online. This is fine. I mean, it’s normal, right? Couples are supposed to know things about each other. And if she doesn’t tell me something, it’s my responsibility to still understand the other person as much as possible. Literally just gonna be publicly available information. I’m not, like, doxxing her. Well, I mean, I don’t think I could do that. Literally already know her name and address. And I’ve told her basically everything about me. Fair’s fair.
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It's just her twitter account that comes up.
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Damn. I mean, that’s fine. It’s cool. No big secret she thought so little of me that I’d be able to find it easily and she still thought I wouldn’t. Um… While I’m on Twitter, I see if I can get a handle on what the Grobber situation is. Have people discovered he’s the fungus or are these two unrelated trends?
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Grobber has been arrested as the fungus. He is now at a local prison.
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Huh.
2:41 PM
I guess they would’ve confiscated his phone, then. Is that bad for me? …No, it’s fine. I never sent anything to him implying I knew he was the fungus, nor him to me. And he doesn’t even know about my secrets. It’s fine. I’ll feign ignorance and just tell the truth about the situation we met in if the police really do come knocking for this.
2:43 PM
Should I, uh, visit him…?
2:43 PM
No, that would be stupid. They wouldn’t even let me, you have to have like, a verifiable connection.
2:43 PM
Or was that hospitals?
2:43 PM
They’re the same, I guess.
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Tempted to just waste the day away gaming or something. But I’m going to try something.
3:02 PM
I take out my phone and navigate to a contact I didn’t think I’d ever visit again. …Grace Rollins. I text her the following, then hit send.
I imagine you’re in a tricky spot. I have a proposal. I and I alone possess the ability to help you. If you’re interested in hearing me out, please meet me at [public park] at [late time].
I take a deep breath. Absolutely no chance she says yes. Much too irrational to give up whatever insane grudge she has for me. But hey. It’s something to take up my time.
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Let’s see, what else… I look up Mats Rumen, Scott Howard, and Grace Rollins. Just in case. Riveting activities from Dana today.
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Mats Rumen is some guy who is also dead. There is no one interested by the name of Scott Howard. Grace Rollins turns up some articles about the Grobber situation.
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I skim the last set. Whatever. Wait, no, it was Howard Scott. I check that.
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Grace "Rollins" Wight was visiting her estranged father when a stalker, the fungus(Grobber Brentwood), broke in to get after her. That's the story on her. There's a lot of stuff going on with Howard, he's a busy guy. Vague searching doesn't bring up much interesting stuff.
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Wight??? She never told me that. Does ANYONE go by their real name to me???
3:44 PM
Whatever.
3:48 PM
All my actions are predicated on the assumption that it isn’t [late hour] yet, as I’ll go to the location I mentioned then just in case. I spend the next hour reading about transgender issues, in particular checking out incredibly graphic descriptions of surgeries and freaking myself out. I bundle myself up pathetically in my sheets and switch to watching some garbage movie about onions or whatever to distract myself.
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((It is fairly late to be clear but sure you can be talking about a later hour))
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((If it’s already late it can be a time the next day. Depends on if I’m holding people up who already finished the chapter))
3:54 PM
Look. I know what you’re thinking. …? That you’ve strayed from any meaningful political belief, but now opened yourself up to someone with a political existence. I don’t know if I should put it THAT way, but… It’s not an insult! It’s just a fact. There is no intrinsic state of politicness, but some demographics are objectively more relevant to public opinions than others. They act as game pieces in a dynamic of social posturing.
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I don’t care! I don’t care about Belto Shelk, or whatever! I don’t understand this. It upsets me. I don’t… I mean, it’s been firmly established that I don’t want to have sex with a man. And… You think she’s one? No! No, obviously… I mean, probably not. I still keep thinking of her as ā€œsheā€. And in any other context, I wouldn’t care! People can do whatever. Grace has the most degenerate lifestyle imaginable, and we got along fine. But it’s different. Because this is ā€œloveā€. And you can’t keep your mind on anything but sex, you fucking freak. That’s not entirely true. I mean, if that was it, I wouldn’t have as concrete of a reaction. I don’t know what she’s… if she… I mean… Yeah, that’s, a whole thing. But your problem is more pathetic, right? You can justify unchecked hedonism by an appeal to nature— Because it’s true. Everything is nature with extra steps. I’m not going to feel bad about being what a human is. Do I look like I’m a fucking Catholic? But you have the same desire to obfuscate that nature as any other sucker. Because you want ā€œloveā€, right? …It’s just another arbitrary rule. I don’t need to justify instinct or intuition. If I’m with someone, I need to understand them fully. Or at least make consistent progress towards that. And I can’t…
4:07 PM
So lie. You’re good at deceiving yourself. Pretend to be someone with decency and beliefs and respect for others. Maybe you can be happy if you do. Should I really bury… all of this? It’s a waste right now, anyway. After we’ve got no future upheavals to worry about, then I can make myself miserable. But for now, it’s a matter of practicality. I’ll use Ariel. She was planning to use me, clearly…? So perhaps this upheaval in perspective on my part can lead to an increase in meaning. What that meaning is… not dwelling on it.
4:07 PM
This distraction thing isn’t working. I open a new tab and use twitter.
4:10 PM
See, maybe if I spun this to a larger scale, that could be the key to everything.
4:13 PM
I’ve already stolen from the rich. If I can focus the concept of the person possessing people, make it more clear that I’m about the desires of all humanity manifested, use language equating that to a power struggle, that could be a bigger deal. I could be something. It’s not like I can stop because this sort of lack of earnestness is unpleasant to me. I’ve already killed, like, five people. The floodgates have opened for trying anything. It’s just a little shift in rhetoric.
4:16 PM
I spend all the time until [late time] being terminally online and theorycrafting how to become Che Guevara, then head to [location]. If I wait ten minutes and no one shows up, I’ll head back home.
4:16 PM
((assuming we are not retconning it to be tomorrow))
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No one shows up.
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Of course. I’ll start making some big move proper tomorrow. Should I hijack Shuichi Maoziwam? Perhaps someone close to him instead. Or maybe that would fail to work for incomprehensible reasons. I’ll do SOMETHING, at least. No more hemming and hawing over taking risks. And even without Grace’s support, I might go along with making some progress on the fungus front. Have to assess the risks to me. We’ll see. For now, I sleep. For the first time in what feels like quite a while, it’s a seamless and easy process.
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((The chapter ends))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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8: Abrupt Gearshift
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana Craig wakes up the next morning.
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Yeah. I check what day it is on my phone because I forgot.
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Monday.
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Ugh. I… oh, I don’t have a real job, yeah. Still. I check the job listing I made for the convenience store I technically own. Remember that? That never stopped being something that happened.
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There are a few interested applicants. Mostly teenagers looking for part time jobs.
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I send out follow-ups asking for interview availability to the three with the funniest names. This is capitalism at its peak.
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There's a knock at Dana's door.
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I sigh, quickly straightening myself up a little, then open the door, looking to see who it is first if I can.
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It's Ariel.
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ā€œGood morning.ā€ Uh, wait, should I add like, a pet name or term of affection? Shit, I don’t know. Maybe that would still be too weird at this point.
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"Good morning!" Ariel.
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I smile. ā€œUm, any plans for today?ā€
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"For once... Yes. Could I come in?" She smiles politely.
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Oh no. What does that mean. Is this her wanting to get like, money from me or whatever? Like that guy I don’t know the name of complained about. I mean, I wouldn’t care. ā€œYeah, of course.ā€
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"I know this isn't usually how we work... But I was hoping you could do me a favor."
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ā€œSure! Yes. Okay. That’s fine, yeah.ā€
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"Oh, and by the way, I'm using he/him pronouns today. I do that sometimes. I guess I forgot to mention it."
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ā€œMm.ā€ Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?
2:50 PM
What?
2:52 PM
I mean, it’s what you wanted, right? You think she’s a man. I didn’t fucking ask for this, moron! Stupid, stupid, fucking idiot! Why would I want to fuck with whatever identity she has like this?! It’s not my god damn business what she calls herself. But it is now. But not in a way that should manifest itself like this.
2:53 PM
Say something, you fucking cunt! She’s gonna think you’re crazy or hate her. ā€œWhat did you want my help with?ā€
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"Well... Do you remember my boss from yesterday?"
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This has nothing to do with you, obviously. Wrongthink isn’t real. She couldn’t know your weird fucking mind breakdowns. This is her being some dumb online hipster. ā€œYeah. That guy.ā€
2:55 PM
But… fuck, let me have a break! I just started being able to sort this shit out…
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"Well... I couldn't stop thinking about him, and then I thought about the revenge we got on Mats and..." She describes these crimes both hypothetical and past with more lighthearted embarrassment than actual self-awareness. "Do you think you could do that again? Just for once?"
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Would this be the ideal? You can be basically with a woman while still abiding by the conventions of what the fuck did she just say ā€œWellā€¦ā€
3:01 PM
ā€œI mean, yeah. That would definitely be something I could do.ā€ ?????????????? Look. I’m a criminal. I’m rude. I’m the ā€˜bad guy’. But I’m not a bad person, okay? I’m doing what it takes to survive. What brings me financial security. Well, maybe I am a bad person, but then who fucking isn’t?
3:03 PM
I never lost a wink of sleep over poor fucking Marco Gould. He was a piece of shit and I more than justified the investment of killing him.
3:03 PM
I can’t dehumanize him as some junkie criminal lunatic, either. I met personally that guy who was clearly gay for him or whatever.
3:04 PM
Ariel… May………
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"Could you make him steal... From my parents?"
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She’s… not a bad person. I already understand she has her reasons for these eccentricities. I ought to want to know more of them. If… ā€œOh. Yeah, sure.ā€ Huh.
3:06 PM
That’s it?
3:06 PM
Well, okay.
3:06 PM
What exactly was I GOING to do?
3:07 PM
This is more than fine. ā€œCan I ask why? I don’t imagine you need that money. Is it just a way to get him off your back?ā€
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"I don't think my personal things really matter here." She dodges the question.
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What? Is this an attempt to take advantage of me? Hell, is the pronoun thing a calculated act? To make me feel victimized and caught off guard? This isn’t how… ā€œI think it matters greatly. It determines what I’m even going to be doing. Like, what or how much am I supposed to steal? Am I supposed to get caught or get away with it? I don’t understand… have I not earned your trust? I already know most of the situationā€¦ā€ I non-pathetically assert my will in this relationship.
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"Oh, it's nothing like that. It's just... I paid for a lot of my life through lovers, so... I think my parents could afford to pay me back a bit."
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My stomach turns. I tell every voice in my head springing up at this point to shut the fuck up. Why would that matter? It doesn’t matter. That’s the past. ā€œHe… would know I did it, though. Even if he wouldn’t know it was me.ā€ It seems pretty clear Ariel has a lot of stuff going on. She’s not like you. She’s lived a full, messy life. Neglect and disappointment from her parents, and a revolving door of failed relationships… Hah. Thinking of it that way, perhaps we are just fellow screw-ups.
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"He would? Why?"
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There is no way for me to repair what exists in Ariel. The classic ā€˜I can fix her’ fallacy. She has some complex of dependency and manipulative behavior. I don’t even really think therapy works for something like this, assuming it ever works. All I can do… what I would like to do… is make her life as pleasant as possible even with whatever she’s become. And then maybe, when I’ve proven myself and given no excuse for leaving, she does the same. ā€œPeople are aware of what happens when I take control of them. It happened with you remember? There… I mean, it’s certainly possible to prevent him from getting us into troubleā€¦ā€ I’ve had enough of people who like me. I want to be… I stop my own thoughts for being embarrassing. Whatever it takes.
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"Yeah, but he wouldn't know it's us, would he?"
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ā€œWell… no. I just think it might be an easy guess if he concludes it’s something with a responsible party.ā€
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"Hm... Maybe that would be better though, right? It's not like he can prove it... And he knows who put him there, so we have a pretty big impact on him."
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ā€œI guess it doesn’t matter too much. But Scott already tracked me down somehow, and I doubt I’ll get lucky twice. I just… will hope nobody takes him seriously.ā€ More than hope. I’m fully capable of disposing of him at any point. ā€œI do need to know his name, though.ā€
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"Jeremy Baxter."
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Dumb name. ā€œOkay. And then… I mean, I’d also need to know where your parents are, what I’m supposed to be taking, how to dispose of it in a way where you’ll be able to retrieve it. There’s a lot of smaller parts to this.ā€
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"Oh... I didn't think that far ahead."
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I sigh. ā€œIt’s annoying, yeah. I mean, we can just agree on a drop-off point that isn’t monitored for the last part.ā€
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"I'll trust what you decide."
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I specify a bench by some public park. Riveting stuff. ā€œI’m just… not sure about this. We have money. And if it comes to it, there are plenty of ways to stop people from bothering you. But I did agree to do you a favor. So if you’re sureā€¦ā€
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"Thank you."
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((yeah imdone))
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((Saturday))
Ehn/PC pinned a message to this channel. 4/21/2023 2:44 PM
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((what the fuck))
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((Sam: Look, I respect Bob, I think he’s a great content creator. Ok, no I don’t, but whatever, I could tolerate it. But this tfw no gf shit, I just… I couldn’t get on board with it. Like, what, it’s just basically Sentasaurus 1 but it’s about being obsessed with Ariel May? What? Bob: Rise of the Craiglin arc sort of fell apart without Sam. I just couldn’t bring myself to go on after he left. [sentasauruspensive sprite]))
2:50 PM
((It’s genius because Ariel being her girlfriend (female) is on an unpredictable schedule Dana can’t handle))
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((sajdbasjkdbajdaj))
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((Oh actually Michelle is the scientist friend that helps turn Norman into the riblin then dies))
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"Thank you."
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ā€œI—I heard you the first time, yeah. I justā€¦ā€ Anything to get away from here. After double checking the information of the place I’m supposed to go, I get ready to actually do the thing.
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((This isn’t a repetition in universe I just repost it so you know what to respond to))
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((I’m aware of your intent im just evil))
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These preparations work.
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What am I doing? Am I going soft? This is pointless. It’s some irrational, emotional compulsion. We don’t need money. We don’t need to aggravate these people. Revenge? For what? I don’t… I keep changing my answer for what exactly the nature of her relationship with this guy is. Best to not dwell on it.
2:12 PM
Am I making a poorly planned decision because I love her?
2:13 PM
…Ha ha. No. I actually internal-monologue-think the set of sounds Ha Ha. It’s him, right? And I don’t have anything to like about him.
2:17 PM
I do not like ANYTHING that has happened today. I check my phone idly before going. It’s about communication. Setting boundaries. Ariel is under some sort of misunderstanding.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Online / twitter / immxrtxlity007
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(Pronouns changed to she/they. ā€œMinors DNIā€ added.)
2:18 PM
jerkths guy off
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FungalMessiah is now following you.
2:20 PM
FungalMessiah has stopped following you.
2:21 PM
((Preceding gif not canon))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
2:22 PM
I put away my phone. Nothing of interest there. I think that might’ve been a problem for me. Dad… or even mom. At least one of them had to be there to rein me in. Or even to not do that! It’s a matter of significance to not enable bad behavior in any kind of relationship, platonic or romantic. Not reining me in made me wild, but not letting me make my own mistakes and suffer the consequences for them made me worthless. I never grew stronger, I just decayed in a gilded cage. I will give Ariel the struggle she needs. Yes, that’s exactly it. It’s because it’s a bad idea that I need to do it.
2:26 PM
This is an absurd idea. It’s trying to use a coworker of Ariel May as a weapon against the parents of Ariel May. Isn’t she an only child? Anyway. Very likely trouble comes of this. To her specifically. And when it does? She’ll be spooked, but I’ll be there and fix things to make sure her life doesn’t fall apart. She learns an important lesson about the responsibility that comes with power, feels gratitude to me in more than one way, everybody wins. (edited)
2:27 PM
I have the police on my side. I can be anyone. I should be invincible if I don’t fuck up irreparably.
2:27 PM
Anyone…
2:28 PM
Wonder how Ariel would feel if I tried to romance her in the body of some gross dude. Fuckin’ Grobber or whatever. Well, he’s not THAT bad looking. I don’t think, at least? …Any answer to that ticks me off.
2:29 PM
ā€œOkay. It’s time.ā€ I nod to Ariel, then write Jeremy Baxter in the notebook.
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Dana finds herself mopping the floor of a department store. The surroundings are reminiscent of several of Ariel's selfies.
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((I guess she would stare through her socials, yeah.))
2:31 PM
Anyone else in the place right now?
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Some customers and other employees.
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…Definitely a bad idea. But it was bad on purpose, right? What time is it, around?
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Relatively early morning.
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Right. I continue mopping for a minute or so as I think things over.
2:37 PM
I wrap up like. Whatever area I was mopping for the time being. I check my (his) pockets.
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He has a phone, a wallet, and keys.
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Understandable. I head to the bathroom so I don’t look like a weirdo fiddling with his own belongings in the middle of a store. Like, the men’s bathroom.
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Dana arrives in the men's bathroom.
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cool
2:40 PM
I check my wallet. The license especially, just to make sure I’m who I should be.
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You are indeed Jeremy Baxter.
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Good, good. The phone. Does it need a passcode to unlock?
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It unlocks from Jeremy’s face.
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I forgot that was a thing these could do. … This was really just to ensure I could contact someone or search for information if it became necessary.
2:45 PM
But… I check through his text message history.
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Dana doesn’t recognize any names, but 2 of his contacts have the last name May.
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Well, I try to keep all the names in the back of my mind just in case. For the Mays, I take note of the first names of these two. A man and a woman, I presume? I also check the address if there is one and the messages for them if there are any.
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Jeremy is on good terms with Ariel’s father, Randy May. Their most recent conversation consists mostly of insulting Ariel and calling him a mistake, followed by Randy apologizing for forcing Jeremy to take him on. They only ever use he/him pronouns, and Randy refers to him as 'Oliver' rather than Ariel. Jeremy and Rosanne May are on slightly stranger terms. Rosanne seems to express regret about an event the last time they met but does not elaborate further. Jeremy feels he was 'owed' it. There’s no mention of Ariel.
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I sigh.
3:04 PM
That’s not what I wanted.
3:07 PM
But what did you want? Objectively, this was the only new relevant information you’d really find. The address was confirming pre-existing knowledge, maybe useful. But obviously the only novel relevant information you could learn from these messages would be about… …Ariel.
3:08 PM
I mean, obviously I don’t give a shit if this woman is cheating on her husband with a guy named Jeremy Baxter or whatever that part is. Probably never gonna think about it again.
3:11 PM
Okay, actually, I really need to not dwell on that right now. But Ariel…
3:11 PM
God, who fucking cares?!
3:12 PM
Maybe if this happened a few days ago, but what new information is this providing?! Whoop-de-doo, she’s not one of the people uninspired enough to just alter their real name.
3:12 PM
Birth name. Whatever.
3:13 PM
There’s no mystery here, no tactical advantage. All it gives me is reminders of what I already had to know on various levels, and… I slam my fist on the nearest surface. Rage.
3:14 PM
How could you do this, Ariel?
3:14 PM
I leave the bathroom. That’s enough fucking jerking off over how cautious I can be.
3:14 PM
How could you…
3:16 PM
It was idleness for me. Maybe you’d call that worse, a hypothetical pure neutral observer would deem that worse.
3:16 PM
But it makes sense.
3:17 PM
Living things… they have a tendency towards homeostasis. If they gave animals infinite food, the cage wouldn’t be necessary. They just can’t do that for practical and health reasons.
3:18 PM
Even with some minor negative reinforcement, it can be slipped by. If you boil a frog slowly enough… well, maybe that was a myth. But still, it says something true.
3:18 PM
Paradox of the heap.
3:19 PM
But that didn’t fucking happen, Ariel! They actively made your life worse! They fucking hate you!
3:20 PM
Why do you still need them? Why do you still have to suck up to people who willingly associate with them?
3:21 PM
I’m leaving the store. What is this guy, a fucking janitor? Who the hell’s gonna notice? ((Dana Craig is not thinking rationally.))
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No one cares.
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You know, I could do that at least. I adapted when I was forced to, thank fuckin’ god.
3:22 PM
Why can’t you? Why all that stuff I said before?
3:23 PM
Why am I not enough?
3:23 PM
…
3:23 PM
And why do you still cling to the ghost of what they wanted from you?
3:25 PM
I read those studies. Gender dysphoria? It’s legit. Rock solid foundation, science-ways. Stands uncontested for decades. I’m not being some coward in denial; she’s obviously got her own quirks, but Ariel’s womanhood is objectively verifiable.
3:26 PM
But this new age gender shit has nothing. Nobody REALLY has any idea what even they themselves are saying with that. (edited)
3:28 PM
What the fuck does that \possibly* mean, for you to be a man some days? In what sense?*
3:29 PM
Not presentation. Personality? Some ethereal standard of manness?
3:30 PM
Okay, fine! So there are fundamental differences between men and women on a mental level, sure?! I’ll take it, I have no stake, but you better not contradict that sentiment!
3:31 PM
How the fuck am I a woman, huh? What makes that true?
3:33 PM
I’m not attracted to men. I’m not kind, or empathetic, I certainly can’t prepare food well. I wouldn’t accuse anyone of believing any of these specifically, but it’s gotta be something, right? Does Jeremy Baxter’s keys include one for a car?
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There’s a car key.
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((In this message, Dana Craig says a slur.)) And I mean, if you told me it was a matter of grammar, that could be internally consistent, if retarded. But that leaves me nowhere! I wouldn’t give a shit if someone called me he, I probably just wouldn’t recognize they were talking to me! I’ve been called worse, believe me. Is the car parked outside the store?
3:37 PM
Or maybe it’s about perception, huh? If everyone believes something, it becomes true? Fuck you! Plenty of ugly people wouldn’t get that.
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The car is parked outside the store.
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I’m certainly not treated as any sort of abstract woman. ((Scipe checks the DMs, confirming that while Dana doesn’t have a car, she does have a driver’s license, meaning she does have some approximation of the ability to drive.)) I get in the car. I carry pepper spray every fucking day in case something happens. Not the best part of town, right? That’s what I was warned about when I moved here! Wow, thanks for the courtesy, people!
3:45 PM
But until my life decided to become a clusterfuck mafia thriller, nothing happened! It’s not just the lack of any violent incidents; nothing at all happened in transit on the streets of Avengard. No catcalling. One aesthetic compliment six months ago. I’m not one of those fucking girls with the luxury of complaining about how people have positive thoughts about them. Me? I’m Dana! I’m Craig! Here’s what I’ve got! The first time I was a woman someone was attracted to was a week ago when I stole the body of one, and it wasn’t even a fucking woman like me.
3:47 PM
Who can blame em, really! Too unkempt. Too flat. Too dreary. Too plain, not plain enough, like a goth girl in a world of idiotic jocks with their shallow standards. Not that she ever actually bothers with some kind of ā€˜aesthetic’.
3:49 PM
But that’s fine! Recently I’ve accepted that I shouldn’t even want that, so there!!!! Lesbians have a lower dating pool, right? They have to have lower standards, yeah? Tough fucking luck, idiot! Everyone and their mothers decided they’re bisexual now. You have to make the first move to scrape up someone who’s probably just mocking you in her own way.
3:50 PM
So what, I fail as a woman, so I have to be a man? Is that what Big Gender has in store for me, what Ariel May thinks of me? YOU THINK YOU CAN DECIDE WHO I AM FOR ME, YOU SHITHEADS?!
3:53 PM
Fine. That’s fine. They are welcome to try. It’s nature, right? Survival of the fittest. For ideas. That’s what Metal Gear was about, actually. I think. Something like that. But I have the right to exert my will and throw my own hat in the ring. That was the whole point. I gave up the old me to Ehn in exchange for being more than a fake piece, for the right to play.
3:56 PM
I say I’m a woman. I say Ariel May is a woman. Because she can’t separate herself from her past, she sometimes self-identifies as a man. A dissociative shift in identity? Really? Are you sure you aren’t trying to impress someone, impress the ghost of the family who hates you sooooo much, who always is there to have your back at making you feel inferior, who brought you into this world in the fundamental agony of all humans creating an imbalance that can never be corrected? Are you sure it’s not that? A coincidence you shove yourself into the exact sort of things that make you miserable.
3:57 PM
I turn the key and start driving to the address. Some gps on the phone or something, I bet.
3:59 PM
I laugh out loud out of nervousness, but also confidence. I am in full control. These are the trappings and spooks of society, but in the end, I can do anything, and other people can’t. It is a matter of correcting my own delusions as I correct those of people who matter to me.
4:00 PM
A shame the only therapist I know is some cultist mafioso! I wouldn’t trust any of them with this task, though.
4:01 PM
I randomly pull over during the drive, thinking of something. I search for both the parents online. What kind of family is she from? What kind of work? Are they well off?
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No results.
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Haha. Nobodies. Ah well.
4:04 PM
I search through the trunk and seats of the now parked car. Anything that can be used as a weapon? Just in case, of course.
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He has a gun.
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What the fuck? Why would…
4:08 PM
Loaded?
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No. There’s a box((?)) of bullets separately.
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Perhaps he’s just paranoid? I load the gun.
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This happens.
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I sit back in the driver’s seat of the car. …
4:26 PM
At this time, at a crossroads, I think again of The Binding of Eric.
4:28 PM
Multiple choices, all locking you off from different futures, all with their benefits which depend on pre-existing conditions. You do not get to confidently assert which path is the best (it’s not path C.), as there’s too many different possible worlds to contemplate all of them.
4:29 PM
Decision paralysis is common for people because of how messy life is.
4:30 PM
But there is no way to pause in real life. Making no choice can be worse than making the wrong one.
4:35 PM
Let’s at least narrow the scope a little. No more stealth missions. I take out his phone and write up a text to Rosanne.
I’m done lying. We settle this today.
…Hmm. I don’t hit send. It’s possible neither of them are home, though… I wasn’t able to find out their jobs. Plus, even this vague comment making sense has some assumptions built in. Uugggghhh. I’m doing it right after I talked about doing it.
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I drive the rest of the way to the address, trying to remain a distance from the house where no one in there would be able to see me.
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Ariel is standing just out of sight from the house, looking around. She’s dressed strangely.
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Fuck.
4:48 PM
It’s going to be challenging to persuade her of anything if she actually sees what happens.
4:49 PM
Why is she here? She never said anything about this.
4:49 PM
Does she intend to act as a distraction for me to steal… whatever?
4:50 PM
Or is this an attempt to check that I’m doing as I was told?
4:51 PM
Strangely how? Like. More um. Y’know…
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More manly.
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Yeah. I feel lightheaded.
4:53 PM
And she… she left me. She left me alone and unguarded and alone and vulnerable and unconscious and alone and alone and alone and alone and alone and alone and alone and alone
4:54 PM
((did ariel ever say a: what she had actually wanted me to steal b: if her parents would be likely to be there at the time))
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((No))
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Hhaaaaannghhhh AAAAAAGGGGRHGGG No fancy faked messages. No fabricating a motive. What did all my effort to do that with Mats amount to? Another silent corpse. Let’s let everyone else decide what Jeremy Baxter meant by this!
5:01 PM
I get out of the car. With the gun. Who were you? Who are any of these people? Ah, I’m sorry Ariel. So sorry, so sorry… the poor girl. It’s such a finnicky ability, you know. The slightest wrong glimpse and I’m booted out!
5:03 PM
How can anyone ever hope to prove what I did? When anyone was anyone. It’s all just flesh and blood, the objective truth.
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Ariel notices Dana runs over to her.
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Who do you think they’d blame if something unfortunate happened between this group of people, you fucking idiot? I’ll sell you out in an instant. There was obviously noth—oh god
5:04 PM
I stare at Ariel.
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"Just so you know, Jeremy… This was all me." She barely gets these words out.
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Wh……at….?
5:12 PM
I’m not going to faint here, I’m not… I take a deep breath. And I fucking think. Time to decide, asshole! All else remains the same, that deadlock. This new information is all you get. Why? Why, why, why! Forget what she said, that’s a whole different issue, WHY DOES SHE THINK I’M HIM?! Is it to test the waters? She’s just not sure who I could be? Makes no sense. Why would he be here. Why not say something vague. Why would she think I’m him WHY would she think I’m him? Did she think she could do something that called me back? That already failed with Jay why would she do that why assume… Oh no. No, she couldn’t have. Noooo.
5:13 PM
If Ariel doesn’t say anything else immediately… I walk past her, towards the house.
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She follows.
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Hah. Maybe it’s her twin. Classic trope. I give up. What was the point of any of this? I knew from the beginning, the whole whoooole time.
5:15 PM
I walk towards the front door specifically. Wonder if she’ll object to that.
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She rings the doorbell.
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Of course not. No objections. Not even any communication. What was the actual point of any of this? Whether I’m Dana or Jeremy, what’s happening now? Is she checking they’re not home in the dumbest way possible?
5:19 PM
Maybe she’s deferring to your judgement, you stupid asshole. That was what you wanted, right? You didn’t want someone who would talk back or contradict you or have an earnest normal view of you. Shut the fuuuuuuck up.
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An adult man, presumably Randy, opens the door. "Jeremy? …And Oliver too. I didn’t expect you 2 here." "I… asked him to bring me here." Ariel.
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I nod. I fucking guess??? I’m not like. Holding the fucking gun to be clear it’s holstered or pocketed or whatever
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"You're dressing decently again." Randy remarks at Ariel. Ariel speaks in the most uncomfortable tone imaginable. "Uh-huh... I'm normal now."
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What is this? What is this???? I didn’t agree to this.
5:34 PM
Give me something some ulterior motive to work with some reason some
5:35 PM
What, is this a diversion for me to do fucking whatever? The thing I don’t even know?
5:35 PM
Is this the whole thing? You lie about yourself for their favor did you mean steal metaphorically and you need me for this?
5:35 PM
Why why why why why
5:36 PM
Is this a confession of something? Something she couldn’t tell me directly?
5:36 PM
I don’t know if my expression is functional right now. I’m trying.
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"Finally." Randy. "Can we... Come in?" Ariel. "...Fine." Randy lets them in.
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I enter.
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It's a normal looking house, even kind of on the cheap side. They really don't look rich at all.
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Haha. Yeah. Ha.
5:41 PM
I eye a clock if there’s one around. Five minutes. If I still don’t understand what’s going on by then, I… I’m…
5:41 PM
I don’t know! I don’t know I don’t know why would you think I would know?!
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Ariel whispers in Jeremy's ear. "There should be a safe in my mom's room." Then she sits down on a couch. "So... How are you, Jeremy?" Randy.
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WHAT ā€œGood. Great, even! Real…. Just ā€˜keeping it real’ as they say, haha. Definitely not the turn of phrase that suits me.ā€ What the fuck does this guy sound like again? Oh, christ.
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"Really? Weren't you just complaining about Oliver buying you out recently? What changed?" Randy.
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Do you want me to… wait until his back is turned???? Why the mom’s room, oh god… wait, separate….nggggh!
5:53 PM
Whatever. I can do anything. ā€œReally? Yeah, I guess I was a little caught off guard at first, a little annoyed. But the finances checked out, and…. I don’t know. Life’s too short to get stuck on that sort of pride. Part of me’s still working through it, but it’d be rude to bring it up here. I’d certainly be a bit offended if you came into my house to insult me or my family. It’s just… not the most important thing right now.ā€
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"You forgave him so easily? Don't tell me he used those surgeries of his on you." Randy gestures towards his daughter's chest. Ariel says nothing.
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ā€œAh, I see. Sorry, I just wasn’t sure what kind of conversation this was gonna be. I can go there. So, Randy, how do you feel about it?ā€
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"Hm? What?" Randy. "Da- Jeremy, you probably shouldn't argue with him..." Ariel. "What was that? What were you just about to call him?" Randy.
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ā€œPersonally, I’d understand finding it a complete outrage from your point of view. I just wanted to hear it directly.ā€
5:59 PM
((Oh I’m in Shelk))
6:00 PM
((Epic))
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"Yes, of course it's an outrage. To do something like this... Without even telling us... It's practically elder abuse." Randy.
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ā€œYes, I understand. Just as it damaged my pride to see my store bought, it must have damaged yours to see your child succeed without your involvement. I can’t imagine how that would feel.ā€
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"Succeed? I mean, come on Jeremy... Delusion isn't really success." Randy. (edited)
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ā€œWell, maybe. Though I’d probably prefer to be deluded with money than deluded without it.ā€ I chuckle sensibly, then look up as if I just heard something. ā€œIs someone else… here?ā€
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"Rosanne's… Away." Randy.
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ā€œI see.ā€ I smile. ā€œJust thought I heard something.ā€ Yes… Hahaha… yes! Fuck all of you! I have complete command of the situation now. I’m in the zone.
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"That’s probably the dog." Randy. "You bought a dog?" Ariel. "No, neighbours have one. Just loud." Randy.
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ā€œMakes sense, mhm.ā€ A great conversation.
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"But really though, what was he trying to call you earlier?" Randy does not ask Ariel about this.
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ā€œI assume he was saying for both of us to stop fighting? Me and you, the father.ā€
6:55 PM
Wonder if that works. Maybe the guy will be insanely paranoid. I can deal with either way. Maybe it’s more fun if things heat up, actually…
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"So he was trying to say dad? He hasn’t called me that since he was a child. No, it sounds like he was about to call you-" Randy. "Dad!" Ariel finally shouts, and then awkwardly winds down. "See…? I say it." (edited)
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((Ok I was gonna say lol))
6:59 PM
ā€œI don’t know. It doesn’t particularly interest me. We all stutter on occasion. What are you trying to insinuate, Randy? We’re reasonable adults that sling out vulgar accusations to people immediately after they enter the house; you can feel free to speak openly.ā€
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"Jeremy, come on… You have to see the suspicion here… These (trans slur)s are always scheming something, and now he walks in here pretending it’s all over. This is just like those bathrooms." Randy.
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ā€œI see. Truthfully, I can’t speak on his intents for certain. I’m just a courteous man with his own interests. I find you very interesting, Randy. You start a conversation making comments about your son’s body and sex life, and then attempt to treat your suspicion delicately? The stress must be confusing you.ā€ I stop to yawn. ā€œWell, it brings up one question. Can you not trust your wife, either?ā€
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"I’m sorry? What’s gotten into you Jeremy…?" Randy.
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ā€œOh, come now. This is healthy! You imply I’m fucking a member of your family, I imply you aren’t. Clearly a lot of tension was already bubbling underneath the surface. I can’t stand fake friends; relationships founded on lying to one another. How is that any different than a delusion?ā€ I’m barely trying to hide my smirk. (edited)
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"Do you really want to bring it there?" He stands up angrily. Ariel shrinks back into her chair but says nothing.
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ā€œI don’t know, do you? I’m just enjoying the process of the conversation. Friend or foe, it’s a lot less of a pain to talk to you than this one.ā€ I gesture to Ariel. ā€œYou’re much simpler.ā€
7:12 PM
I stand up as well, with relaxed posture.
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"Simpler? What does that mean? Are you calling me (ableist slur)ed?" Randy.
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ā€œNo, nothing of the sort. You’re fine. Come on, can’t we bond over this? Insulting your son seems to be basically all you’re up for. I’m trying to be accommodating.ā€
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He grabs a beer laying around and chugs it without answering.
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ā€œHah. Well, maybe the novelty’s run out.ā€ I slowly, casually wandering, alter my position to one that can easily see both Ariel and Randy at once. I pull out the gun. ā€œThere’s no medical explanation for it, Randy. You’re the regular kind of idiot, just like your son. No cure for that. Now let’s all play nice and make this easy, hm?ā€ I glance between the two of them, on alert.
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Randy throws the beer can at Dana and then falls over.
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ā€œAlways the disappointment. I’ve a flight to catch. Things are getting too dicey in Avengard. Just wanted to say farewell, first!ā€ I move slightly closer, but not enough that he could reach me. ā€œI’ve always hated you, Randy. It made me furious how easy you made it to pretend otherwise. This has been a long time coming. I think you should wonder where everything wrong with your kid came from! Probably did some good to be disowned, really. The one bit of parenting you can be thanked for. Not good enough to not be dumb as bricks, though.ā€ I turn to Ariel with a twisted grin. ā€œI mean, what was the plan here? Find some closure by lying to the guy? Jeez!ā€ I turn back to Randy, and start backing up to the direction of the mother’s room which I’m going to hope I know.
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Ariel subtly points to the correct room. Randy starts crying.
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ā€œI’m not a cradle robber, friend. Why would I have sex with your kid? Give me a little fucking credit. It’s your wife. That’s how I know where you keep your valuables. Though things have fallen off with her as well. It’s a pain for me too, really. But it’ll soothe the struggle of these tumultuous days coming up to imagine you penniless, having to beg for scraps from the idiot son you hate for managing more than you ever could. Have fun!ā€ I run off to the room.
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It’s a rather generic bedroom. There’s a small safe to the left of the bed.
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Oh, thank God it’s not hidden. I… Well, it’s locked, right? Assuming it is I just take the whole thing.
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It is locked by a number combination. ((Roll))
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((10.))
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It’s too heavy.
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ā€œDamn. I forgot that about safes.ā€ The one hitch in an otherwise perfect plan. ā€œWhat the hell, did you change the combination?ā€ I yell back to where the two of them are, checking their positions. ā€œLook, I’ll kill you if you don’t tell me, etc etc, we all know how this goes.ā€
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Randy is getting up. He’s crying. Ariel is still just sitting in the chair.
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ā€œWrong choice.ā€ I am going to shoot Randy May in the leg.
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((Roll))
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One day I’ll get the hang of these things.
7:49 PM
((18))
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It works. He falls over and shrieks in pain.
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ā€œWell? Jeez.ā€
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"MotherFUCKer… Why are you doing this to me, Jeremy? Jeremy… I’ve always been here for you Jeremy… Jeremy…" He’s sobbing.
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Yeesh. ā€œI suppose you were tolerable for a time. Sorry, but life is simply unfair. You’ll get over it. Or would if you lived.ā€ I pause. ā€œA murder charge DOES make ā€˜em way more persistent, so I’d like to avoid thatā€¦ā€ I glance over to Ariel. ā€œWhat about you? I imagine you’re far less likely to take a bullet… though if they really changed it recently and I’m not just misremembering, there’s no way in hell you’d know. Hmphā€¦ā€
8:01 PM
ā€œWell, you’ve got three more limbs. I’ll give you a minute to remember, Randy. But you really should remember. Even economically, dealing with bullet wounds is more costly than whatever pittance you’ve got.ā€
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"Rosanne never told me! I swear!" Randy.
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ā€œI hate that I’m almost tempted to believe that. What the hell is she keeping in there, then? Buddy, that is one hell of a red flag.ā€
8:05 PM
ā€œAhhh… Ariel — Randy, I’m calling her this as well as a her to spite you, not for her sake — what’s your birthday? That sort of sappy nonsense feels like the stereotypical answer.ā€
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"February 14th." Ariel. "Barely! Everyone knows before 1AM doesn't count!" Randy.
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ā€œHow the fuck is this something to argue over?! There is something seriously wrong in this house, and it’s not the criminal. Ugh.ā€ I try combinations of the birthday alone or the birthday with the year, and then also the day before and after since there’s some ambiguity apparently. There is… no way this actually works. But at least I can say I tried.
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None of these work.
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… I try shooting the lock of the safe.
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((Roll))
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((For fucking what. I am shooting a BULLET at POINT BLANK at a STATIONARY TARGET what is the factor at play here. the strength of the safe????? do i control that?????? fuck you))
8:19 PM
((14))
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It breaks open.
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Great. What’s in there
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Inside is a pair of beautiful yellow and black earrings. They kind of look like bees. They're also clearly expensive.
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I sigh. Sure. Fine. Whatever. I take the bees and book it.
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"Jeremyyyyyyyyy-" Randy calls after Dana but is incapable of following. Dana easily escapes on her own.
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Great. Whatever we agreed on doing after the booty was secured I go do. If we didn’t come up with a plan which. I feel like we did then. idk. ((can you tell I’m tired ))
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((Are you saying you want to stop here))
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((sure))
8:38 PM
((i craiged out too much and wasn’t productive today. hopefully the value was wrth it))
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((End session))
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((Saturday))
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Dana is at a bench by some public park.
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So I am. Good thing we planned this part out.
2:06 PM
I’ll discreetly hide the goods behind a bush. From there, it’s up to Ariel to get it before I stop being able to delay the authorities. Delaying… Am I being pursued?
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Dana is not being pursued.
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Hm. Now it’s the only question we really ever had. Life or death for Jeremy? Hm.
2:10 PM
In hindsight, I guess that bizarre bit of ā€œtaking creditā€ back there was Ariel covering for me in the situation he lives to tell the tale.
2:11 PM
Does that mean it’s what she expects?
2:11 PM
I don’t think she CARES about him. I mean, he clearly got along well with her fuckin’ parents.
2:13 PM
I think she’s just a soft-hearted person. She doesn’t have the desire to cause anyone’s death, as conniving as this whole scheme is.
2:13 PM
I’ll be doing her a favor.
2:13 PM
And anyway, my lies were too elaborate. I don’t think this ends well if he can give his side of the story. The only question is how?
2:14 PM
Suicide by cop would be ideal… but frankly, as long as he dies, it’s all the same.
2:15 PM
Do I recognize this area?
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Anywhere nearby I can die from a fall? That seems ideal. If the landing is water, they’ll also have more doubts about if some evidence was swept away.
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Avengard is an island and there are a lot of tall buildings.
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Well, I pick one. No big deal if I get in trouble on my way to do this. That’s just bringing the goal to me.
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This happens.
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No need to dwell on the details, yes. With a sufficient height advantage, I subject him to a lethal fall. It was an accident, somehow, if Ariel pushes me on it.
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Dana wakes back up in her body before she even hits the ground.
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Odd timing… And I’m still in the same place I was last?
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Correct.
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Right, then. I check my phone for any pertinent messages.
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Nothing.
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Hm. I text Ariel.
lmk when you’re able to talk!
…Also, didn’t Grobber get arrested as a stalker or something? I’d like to contact him… but I suppose that would be a no-go. I privately message @FungalMessiah on the alt I created to speak to Bob Smith. (https://discord.com/channels/959192904184778753/979771235938492527/1008579152821112854)
Who is this? You can’t seriously be purporting to be part of some criminal effort on a public account.
On the same alt, I privately message @LEIBLINCCEO.
I have information pertinent to the continuing existence of your company. Would you be open to an exchange of information?
Finally, I assume I’ve never been contacted again by ā€œBobā€ Smith. Time for a more aggressive approach. I publicly tweet on the alt, replying to whatever his most recent post is.
What exactly is your connection to the mafia, Nathan?
Also, I follow Ariel! My girlfriend. I don’t think I actually did that yet! ((1984 me from whatever you must but otherwise haha sucker have fun making the guide twelve years from now))
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((Does that mean you want me to post the alt tweet))
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((Sure. God forbid the Mystery isn’t preserved))
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@LEIBLICNCEO's DMs are not open. There's a knock at the door.
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Oh well. I’m bound to get SOMETHING interesting. I check who is at the door.
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Grace is standing there, holding a bong.
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Oh, god. …I exit my home.
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"Hey, Dana..."
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ā€œHello.ā€
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"I need your help."
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I sigh. ā€œWhy?ā€
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"I... need to catch Michelle's killer. So I can move on."
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…Hmph. I ponder the nature of their relationship. Then I stop pondering it. Whatever. ā€œI know some things and have my own opinions, but I’m not sure I have any information you haven’t already found.ā€
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"I know, I'm not asking for what you know. I want to..." She looked around cautiously. "Kidnap a detective."
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I laugh. ā€œThat’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. But I’m willing to hear more.ā€
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She raised the bong and spoke dramatically. "I am the Fungus."
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Oh. Hm. ā€œYeah, I guess that makes sense.ā€
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"I'm not really sure how it works, but this thing is what gave Grobber his power." She holds it out. "I don't really need it after this, so you're free to take it."
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I hesitantly accept the ā€œā€boofā€ā€. I look at it. ā€œI’ve never been clear on what Grobber’s actually done, really.ā€
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"Hobos like him. Just say you're the fungus and they'll die for you, I guess."
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ā€œLike… mind control, or some shit?ā€
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"No, they just like him. I think this thing makes you invisible, or something?"
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ā€œI—okay, whatever.ā€ I’ll test this out later if I get the chance. ā€œDoes this thing have anything to do with your current plan?ā€
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"I figured you'd want something in exchange for helping me. It's not exactly like we're best friends."
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ā€œNo, I was just wondering. I don’t really have a use for this, but… it’s something. Good to know what the situation was with Grobber. And I also want to know the truth about Michelle for certain myself. Motive enough. So what are you proposing?ā€
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"There's a detective named Jessica James who was involved with the case, who's also handling Grobber's case. I want to know what she didn't include in the case file."
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ā€œOh, her. Small world. Okay. I don’t exactly have experience kidnapping people, you know.ā€
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"You know her?"
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ā€œThat’s an overstatement, but I know someone by that name exists and is a very obsessive by-the-books sort of cop. Had an annoying amount of conversations with the police early last week.ā€
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"So do you know how we could get to her?"
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You came to me without even an idea of that much??? ā€œNot off the top of my head… Though, I mean, I might be able to look into it… if it’s a matter of locationā€¦ā€ I’m not willing to expose everything about me to fuckin’ Grace. She better have some good reason or plan for this.
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"She's probably the police station at this time of day, right? It'd be hard to get to her there."
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ā€œMaybe. We’d have to lure her out or something. Or wait for a more opportune time.ā€
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"No. This ends today."
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Ugh. Another person being completely irrational. ā€œā€¦Do you have a good location in mind for where you’ll ā€˜interrogate’ her?ā€
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"…I have a mask." She speaks with embarrassment.
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ā€œYā€”ā€œ I groan. ā€œWhatever. I think I can get her into the right place at the right time. But you need to be the one who restrains her there. I’m not willing to risk being seen.ā€
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"I’m supposed to actually kidnap a detective on my own?"
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ā€œI was hoping, at least. …What sort of mask is it? Just something that obscures your face?ā€
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"Yes?"
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ā€œOkay. …Gas. I have… a functioning gas mask.ā€
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"That works."
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Fine. I guess I’ll risk being in the area. ā€œActually, can’t you lure her out? She’d still be tasked with whatever remains of The Fungus, right? Maybe there’s something to leverage there.ā€
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"She probably wouldn’t come alone, though."
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ā€œHm. Yeah, true. There’d be a decent amount of people dispatched for a credible threat. Unless… there wasn’t one.ā€ I smirk as I begin to plot tricks. ā€œYou’re the one with access to the fungus Twitter account now, yes?ā€ (edited)
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"…Yeah? What about it?"
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ā€œImagine… A false flag. Imply a big move is imminent. Some location. Make it clear you’re asking for trouble. I wouldn’t really know; you can probably make up something more in line with the character’s ethos than I could. And the police take notice. Probably start getting ready for mayhem. That’s the first step.ā€
5:58 PM
I stroke my chin. ā€œThe diversion of resources is incidental. It’s the second half of this that does the trick. Jessica gets contacted personally by someone with information on the Fungus that could save lives. …Me. Make it credible by providing information only a true insider could know, something about the case not disclosed publicly. Something about Grobber, maybe. Enough info that even if Grobber’s already said he worked alone, they’ll think it’s a lie.ā€
6:02 PM
ā€œThis person—They’re a collaborator; a former one. They can’t abide by The Fungus’s current madness. A question of succession. But this mysterious person is still a criminal. They do not have enough trust in the authorities to simply waltz into the police station as an informant. They want a single individual they respect the values of from spying on the opposition. They insist they come more-or-less alone; if more than a handful of people are visible approaching the agreed upon abandoned location, they’ll flee, or worse. Allow some leeway since she’s probably not dumb enough to literally enter somewhere helpless. From there… it’s actually pretty simple to isolate her from anyone she brought with her, getting enough alone time to acquire the information we need.ā€ Simple for me, at least. ā€œā€¦Though that’s just one idea, and there’s some clear points of weakness. I’m also open to something more or less complicated.ā€
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"I don’t have any ideas. That works."
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ā€œRight.ā€ I look online into large abandoned structures in Avengard. Like, a school, or something. Honestly, that plan started as some lie to provide a fake explanation for why she’d end up exactly where we needed her. But I’m committed now. It’s just about doing it in a way that can’t be traced back to me. And… it’s incredibly easy to sell out Grace to survive myself if things come to that. It’s only the truth, after all; she’s The Fungus, and I’m just some guy she demanded help from. Any inexplicable behavior from Jessie can be lumped into the vague paranormal fungus abilities.
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((Roll))
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((17))
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Dana finds some kind of abandoned warehouse.
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Good. Cool.
6:19 PM
I inform Grace of this.
6:20 PM
I wonder what Ariel’s up to right now…? She’s probably still dealing with the aftermath of all that stuff. I won’t bug her. I do look up Ariel or Oliver or Randy May to see if there’s any breaking news of some kind.
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Nothing.
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Right. Okay. (edited)
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"What next?"
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ā€œThe false flag. Post some nonsense as The Fungus. The ruse only works if I contact her after that.ā€
6:44 PM
Changing my server name to The Fauxngus
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"There."
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ā€œOkay.ā€ From a burner account, I begin to draft the most important email ever written. ((can uh. we be done for the day lol))
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((Okay sure))
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((Saturday))
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((Hi))
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 3:57 PM
Ms. James -
I… am a former associate of The Fungus. To be honest, I despise you and your ilk. You’ve locked up a hero. But it’s an obligation you have, I suppose. At the very least, I’m much more infuriated by disgracing his name, a path actively chosen. The Fungus is still alive, as in the sense it’s name might imply, its not only one individual. A different person has taken up the mantle of the name, seizing the facilities that allow for the use of the abilities of The Fungus. She’s incompetent. Unfortunately, her support and position is enough that I cannot oust her. But I would rather kill The Fungus than allow it to live as it is now. I know who The Fungus is and I know where The Fungus is going to arrange an attack tonight. If you are interested in hearing what I have to say, and more importantly, the damning evidence I am willing to give you for the sake of your job…
[Location]. [A time reasonably later from now]. Come alone, or with reinforcements that have the decency to know how to hide. I will be alone myself. …If you attempt to capture me, the facility may suffer an unfortunate accident.
That is all. Send Brentwood my regards, pig.
- Mycelium
Yeah, sure, that’s probably good enough. I send that or something like it.
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She replies quickly.
Why would I trust a single word criminal scum like you has to say? You’re a blight on this earth and I have no intention to operate as your hitwoman, you cancer. Detective Jessica James, AGPD
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:03 PM
Tch.
4:05 PM
Well, clearly, the issue isn’t just not believing I am who I say I am.
4:05 PM
More fundamental philosophy.
4:05 PM
What a dork.
4:12 PM
I see. That is a shame.
It’s Mycelin’ time.
I send this.
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She doesn’t reply.
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:16 PM
ā€œI’m gonna gā€”ā€ I say this in Grace’s vague direction, planning to make up an excuse to go into my home for Just A Bit. But I stop myself. ā€œā€¦Why are you Wight?ā€
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"Huh?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:18 PM
ā€œI didn’t know you went by a half-pseudonym or whatever.ā€
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"Who told you?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:23 PM
ā€œUh, the news?ā€
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"…" She bit her lip. "Have you heard of Fredrick Wight, the host of freedom news network? He’s my father. We were… Estranged."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:31 PM
ā€œYeah, I’ve heard of him. That makes sense, sure. Butā€¦ā€ I shake my head. ā€œWhatever.ā€
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"How did it go with the detective?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:35 PM
ā€œLess than ideal.ā€ I lean back casually. ā€œHow important is this closure to you? Or, what I really mean… if we pulled this off successfully… where would you go from there?ā€
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"Why are you asking?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:42 PM
I’ve run through it in my head countless times. The two opposing forces of Jessica and Grace. Neither can know who I am. And I definitely have no way to manipulate the former without my ability. I could literally have this detective in any damn location Grace wanted, but what sort of fuckin’ excuse would she accept? Not to mention the time doing it. My line before was literally just ā€˜I’m gonna go take a shit’, I have no excuse for spending multiple hours isolated. If I trick Grace and Jessica into being in the same place, Grace will definitely be undisguised and either easily caught or kill the woman. Either way she’d probably find a reason to be mad at me. ā€œTo be frank, I’m not even confident you’re motivated to avoid getting caught yourself, let alone not selling me out.ā€
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"Why would I want to get caught? If that was my goal I could just turn myself in."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:47 PM
ā€œYou don’t find out anything that way.ā€
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"I don't find out anything if I get myself caught like this, either."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 4:52 PM
ā€œI’m talking about after. Kidnapping’s a pretty traceable crime, and you haven’t been too concerned with the logistics of it. I suspect you simply want to get as much time with the detective as you need, and then don’t give a shit what happens to you after. And maybe you wouldn’t rat on me, I’m less confident about that, but it’s still a problem from my perspective.ā€
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"…I do care. For the first time in my life, I want to be selfish. I want to live."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 5:03 PM
ā€œLive.ā€ I nod. ā€œSure, that’s a philosophy I can respect. The only reasonable one in your situation, I think. But talk is cheap.ā€ I mutter. ā€œMaybe I just… need to come up with something betterā€¦ā€
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"Something better?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 5:12 PM
ā€œI just, some… some planā€¦ā€ I hold my head. ā€œFuck, I—I dunno! Do you even have a reason to believe this lady knows anything secret?ā€
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"She has to know something we don’t!"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 5:25 PM
ā€œWhy?! Fuck, I’m not even sure what that would be. A signed confession note? Fingerprints on the murder weapon? There’s a good chance the culprit is dead, so I don’t know if certainty exists anywhere.ā€
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"What’s that supposed to mean?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 5:33 PM
ā€œGus Amon was near the scene and he’s a fucking career criminal. I’m not confident enough to bet my life on it, but come on.ā€
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"We can’t know that for sure… And if he is innocent, then… Isn’t it worth making sure?" (edited)
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 5:47 PM
ā€œLook, I think if they had decisive evidence, the case would be closed. Maybe the mob or whatever conspiracy is behind all this has its tendrils in the law, but Jessica James is a principled lunatic. She’s not gonna bow to outside pressure for the same reason nothing I try on her is gonna work.ā€
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"It’s worth trying! I gave you that magic thing, at least try this for me! If it doesn’t work you can go 'I told you so' all you want."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:09 PM
ā€œWhat, like, ask the homeless community to abduct her???ā€
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"I mean… I guess? But that’s not what the magic does. That’s unrelated."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:17 PM
ā€œI don’t understand what it does.ā€
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"Neither do I!"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:20 PM
I chuckle. ā€œWell, I can try to figure it out.ā€ I am going to use the bong, drugways.
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Dana's eyes feel weird, but nothing else happens. She doesn't even feel high at all.
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:27 PM
ā€œOk, it just sucks. Maybe only he could get anything out of itā€¦ā€
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"Try again."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:27 PM
I continue to do drugs under pressure from my peer.
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Dana's arm turns into a cannon. ((Like the fucking mega man one))
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:32 PM
I scream. Eh???
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"It can… Do that?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:34 PM
I waggle my arm around in a panic.
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It waggles around normally. Dana can’t fire it unless she chooses to.
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:45 PM
Fine. Cool. Fine. I try to? Shoot the ground a bit in front of me?? ((im assuming i have relocated indoors at some point in order to weed))
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It shoots right through the floor.
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:47 PM
Like, making a hole???
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Yes.
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:49 PM
((I forget the geography of Dana home so like does someone live below me))
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((Off the top of my head I think Kris did))
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 6:52 PM
Fuck. ā€œFuck!ā€ I mentally envision the concept of having a normal arm using all my energy.
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This doesn’t happen.
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 7:44 PM
Damn
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"This is good though, right? I mean, I doubt anyone else has a weapon like that."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 7:50 PM
ā€œWhat, like a gun?ā€
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"I don’t think most guns shoot that hard."
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 8:18 PM
ā€œOk, like specifically one of those fucked up ones that—look, whatever. This doesn’t help our current situation at all…!ā€
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"I think it just goes away naturally with time?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 8:28 PM
ā€œHow could— did he never do this in front of you??ā€
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"A few times, but it wasn't exactly clear!"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 8:42 PM
ā€œHow could this be unclearā€¦ā€
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"Well he never grew a cannon for an arm!" (edited)
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 8:44 PM
ā€œOkay, so it only does this now?!ā€
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"How should I know?"
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Dana Craig 5/6/2023 8:54 PM
I bury my head in my one hand I have. ((I am out of fuccking ideas for today))
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((Saturday))
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"I thought you were supposed to be better at this than me."
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ā€œAt ā€˜this’?ā€ I exhale loudly. ā€œThat’s on you for making assumptions, then.ā€
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"Well, you definitely have a 'villain' vibe. You can’t blame me."
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ā€œYeah.ā€ I sigh, and look for the aforementioned gas mask.
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It’s where you left it. (edited)
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Good. Villain, huh? I guess that’s not too far off. Never thought of it that way. But I’ve never cared for society’s rules. I stare at the gas mask. What a stupid fucking idea this was. Honestly, am I that paranoid? That insecure? I wasn’t even going to do anything of note. The gas mask stares back. Its vacuous eyes betray nothing. Wearing something like this… would just make me stick out. Maybe that’s the point, though. I’ve always sort of thought jokingly, that like… I could be a good spy. Nobody ever seems to notice me. I head over to the bathroom, or wherever else there’s a mirror. It’s always about the masks we wear. Self-righteous people can never admit who they are. Something like this is honest, really. It makes no pretenses about being a façade. I put on the gas mask and pull up my hoodie. (As it happens, this is not the primary Dana Craig hoodie, what I am wearing today.) I check the mirror. How’s this? Cover my face and hair decently?
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It does it’s job.
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I yell back to Grace. ā€œDo you know where she is? Like, where she works?ā€
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"A police precinct?"
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ā€œThat’s it?ā€ I’m trying to meet you halfway, pal.
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"Well, I know the specific one, I guess."
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ā€œThat’s something. How do you even know about her? Is what cases different officers are assigned to public info?ā€
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"Grobber... Stole all of the police files a while ago."
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"Hah. Nice. Guess those were probably reconfiscated, though..."
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"Yeah. Plus, they didn't have anything useful in there. But the detective must know more."
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"..." What are you afraid of? This isn't even related to you. Not collective unconscious. "The Fungus" is doing this. If you do get caught, anyway, notoriety is guaranteed. And if you don't, you'll know far more, and another person will be in your debt. But I don't want to get caught. I won't be. I have something to return to, after all. I stow the bong away on my person and put my hands... my arms in my pockets. "Heh. Fine. Let's go." It's pretty obvious this is the next thing I'm supposed to do, anyway. No more weird awkward family time. The plot progresses.
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"Lead the way."
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I remove the gas mask until we're closer. If I know where this precinct is, I head there, taking a somewhat unusual route just in case. If I don't I call Grace a fucking idiot
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"We’re ambushing her in the precinct?"
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I pause. "That depends."
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"On what?"
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((what the fuck is a precinct actually. isnt it like. a district. or is it also the police station or whatever in taht district))
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((Idk I just kind of assume definitions))
6:15 PM
((It was a police station that I meant though yeah))
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"Your standards. Breaking into a law enforcement building is the most idiotic thing we could possibly do. But, I mean, that's probably where she is right now, and you insist we do this as soon as possible. We could try causing a scene to lure her out, but that could just result in any police officer taking the bait, if anyone shows up at all. My plan to lure her using The Fungus failed, and there's nothing I could conceive of to lure her out related to Michelle's case."
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"Alright, I’ll follow your lead.ā€ She leads Dana to the police station.
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I squat some place near the building. "I'm going to keep an eye on the entrance. Could you circle around -- far enough to not be suspicious, of course -- and check if you can see her externally through a window or something?" I need some time alone for this to work.
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"Alright." She does this.
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I sigh. After all this wavering, I'm still a one trick pony. I write Jessica James on whatever scrap of paper from the book I've kept on me. Just... at the very least, to get an idea of where she is.
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Jessica James is currently in Carolyn Blythe’s office. There's no one else around.
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You're shitting me.
6:35 PM
Okay. Great. Is there a mirror I can look at immediately
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Not in the room.
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Fuck. Ugh. I could just head to Grace as Jessica, but... what if someone finds my body?
6:40 PM
It's been too long already for Jessica to not realize something's up. Fine. I leave Carolyn's office.
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Kingsley is outside. "Did you find anything?"
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Oh, great. "Not particularly."
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"You seemed pretty confident there’d be something."
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"So?" I glare at him.
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"I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to question you, detective James!"
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"Yeah." Right. "If you're uncertain, you can take a look yourself. It's impossible to prove the negative that there's no relevant information I missed."
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"Do you… Want me to?"
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"Whatever." I check my pockets.
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Jessica James has a gun, a badge, a wallet, and a phone.
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Great.
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((Saturday))
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My last moment in Elon Musk's body with 1.2 seconds to go
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((hi))
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Hey it’s me dana Craig
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I look at Jessica James’s phone because I love looking at phones
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It requires a pin to unlock.
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I put it back away. Basically just checking the time. ā€œI’m confident about her, at any rate.ā€ I attempt to fish context info from him.
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"Well... I certainly wouldn't doubt you." He nods.
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ā€œGreat.ā€ Useless as ever.
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"So what now?"
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ā€œWe ought to see if anyone else who works or frequents here knows anythingā€¦ā€ I mutter.
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"Are you alright?"
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ā€œWhat do you mean by that?ā€
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"Well… You’ve had a lot less energy lately. I didn’t think I’d ever see someone as great as you in a shape like that."
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ā€œNo one is able to be in overdrive perpetually.ā€
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"Alright. If you say so."
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ā€œā€¦ā€¦Is anyone aside from us in the building right now?ā€
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"You were just in there... Wouldn't you know the answer better than me?"
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((ok am i like. Outside the entire building??? i thought i just left a room))
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((I interpreted it as outside the building whoops))
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ā€œVery strange, but I have to go find the truth.ā€ I enter the building again.
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There’s no one inside.
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Yeah.
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After a minute or so, I head back out. ā€œI don’t believe there’s any other relevant location, unless I’ve forgotten something.ā€
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"I don’t think so either." He nods.
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ā€œBack to the station, I supposeā€¦ā€
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He sits down in the passenger’s seat of the police car.
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Driving is probably not a good idea as I am now. I sit down on the passenger side seat, and mutter the word ā€œFungus.ā€ as I check the mirrors.
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"Hm?" Dana wakes back up in her body, right where she left it.
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I sit up.
7:53 PM
Anyone around?
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No one.
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Okay. Anyway. Wonder what she’ll do now…
7:57 PM
((I have been off this entire time because of the genius sleep schedule I’ve been creating these past few days i think this is the stopping point))
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((You’re killing me))
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((IS ANYONE WAITING ON ME))
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((Yes.))
8:03 PM
((I'm not forcing you to continue today but it's been like a full month of nothing sessions at this point))
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((BLUH BLUH i will continue responding today whenever i am capable of thinking of things to send)) I check the time, just to see how long I was her.
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Only a few minutes.
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I wait some time longer for Grace to return, keeping watch on the entrance like I actually said I would.
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Grace returns. "I didn't see her, sorry."
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ā€œThat’s fine.ā€ Using my advanced geographic knowledge, I wander a bit further away from the precinct. To somewhere someone traveling from the office of Carolyn Blythe to that location would likely cross. I do not bother explaining what I’m doing.
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She follows you. After a bit, you see Officer Kingsley and Detective James drive down that street.
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Is one of my arms still a gfucking gun
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The gun went away while Dana was out of her body.
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Damn.
8:54 PM
Is there other traffic on this street?
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There are other cars.
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I whisper to Grace. "It would be idiotic to try something now and idiotic to try something at the station. If we wait it out... she has to be alone eventually."
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"Fine... I'll try something." Grace jumps in front of their car.
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Great. Glad you took me along for this. I make sure I’m masked and then, assuming Grace has not died from being run over by a car, trail after her.
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The car was not moving particularly fast, she's fine. Detective James exits the car while Kingsley waits inside. "My name is Jessica James, I'm a detective for the AGPD. My badge number is..." She continues stating information about herself to Grace, who is still on the ground.
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((did the car actually make contact with her or is she just on the ground because she literally jumped in front of it))
9:25 PM
((this does not actually matter))
9:26 PM
"Excuse me." I call out to James with my incredibly non-suspicious appearance, taking care to meaningfully enunciate my voice differently even aside from the filtering introduced by a mask.
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She turns to Dana. "Are you with this person?"
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"Dependent on definition. We are certainly in the same vicinity right now." I look down at Grace. "I'm simply wondering why you're bothering to explain your identity."
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"I'm providing my contact information."
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"How courteous."
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"It's the law."
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"And you have elected to follow it. A choice regardless."
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"It shouldn't be a choice." James. While she's talking, Grace has started crawling towards Kingsley's door.
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Oh, I get it. I don't get it. "You would be out of a job if it weren't."
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"I don't put my job above the safety of people. I'd starve out on the street if it meant the people were safer."
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"Do you believe such nobility is capable of surviving?"
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"It's not about survival. It's about doing what I can." James. Grace gets up and pulls out a gun, which she aims at Kingsley's head. "Hands in the air." He obliges.
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"It is always about survival." did i bring my own cfcking gun i forget
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((Do you have one?))
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((Yes. I fucking forget why. oh i stole kingsleys lmao thats how i originally got it))
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((You can have brought it idc))
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I withdraw it. "None of us desire for anything unfortunate to happen here. My sole interest is uncovering the truth."
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Detective James immediately reaches for her gun.
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"Do you wish to shoot me? You are free to do so. I wonder who you think you are protecting..."
10:01 PM
I'm calm. This is fine. I'm okay right now
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She completely ignores Dana and aims for Grace, leaving her back to Dana.
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Ugh. I can't just run. I need to not allow Grace any reason to sell me out. I also can't shoot her. Jeremy was right; they're much more persistent in trying to track down people with more serious offenses. "This is nothing but a formality to have an honest exchange of words and actions. It is a test of what all involved value, and of the facts." I keep just saying shit.
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James is completely ignoring you. "Put the weapon down. Do not threaten an officer of the law." "Just hit her!" Grace.
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"To what end? So I might receive my own gunshot wound? Don't be an imbecile. We already have everything we" In the middle of talking (as a genius mindgame), I accept Grace's advice, hitting James in the head with the classic butt stroke. (edited)
10:17 PM
I ignore that actually, it is referred to as a pistol-whip when used with a shorter more compact gun. This is because that's not as funny, because it doesn't have the word "butt" in it.
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((Roll))
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((15))
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Detective James falls over, unconscious. "Get out of the car." Grace pulls Kingsley out, while keeping the gun aimed at him.
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I take James's fucking gun. I am a kleptomaniac. I lift up her body, moving to drag it to somewhere less public with the coverage provided by a hostage situation. "...Where." I ask this single word.
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"Put her in the car." Grace.
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"Ok." I was going to whine about that, but yeah, it does make sense to get Kingsley out of the car first. I put her in the car and enter myself.
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"I’m… not going to let you take her." Kingsley. "Seriously!? This is already complicated enough." Grace.
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"I do not think he has the capacity to stop us."
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"Everyone's been pushing me to try… So this is my moment. I’ll save-" He reaches for his gun, before being pistol whipped and knocked out by Grace.
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CHARACTER ARC DENIED
10:36 PM
"Okay. Let's go."
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She also shoves him in the car and waits for Dana to drive.
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Fine. "...Do we really need him?" I start to speed off while thinking of a place to take them.
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"Well… I didn’t think dumping him on the street would make sense. He could get like… Run over. Or something." That empty building Dana researched is nearby.
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There's a good chance she set up an ambush there... But fine. What could go wrong? I'm already ten levels of fucked right now. I'm starting to lose it. I drive there and haphazardly park wherever near it.
10:44 PM
Also, I take Kingsley's new gun.
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Grace handcuffs the 2 unconscious cops using their own handcuffs.
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Good, good. We're in some abandoned location. Nothing to lead to us except... a highly visible public kidnapping, a police car parked outside, and an anonymous warning relating to this location beforehand. Just wait for them to awaken now, I suppose.
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"I’ll handle the interrogation part. You can just… Stand back menacingly with your gun."
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"Fine." I hold at least one gun.
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Grace lightly kicks the detective. This does nothing. "Do you have any cold water or something?"
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ā€œIt isn’t something I tend to carry around, no.ā€
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"Fair enough." She kicks the detective again, causing her to wake up. ((End session because I’m tired))
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((Fair enough.))
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((Saturday))
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I stand menacingly.
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Detective James sits up. "...Where am I?" She notices the handcuffs. "What?"
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I stand menacingly. Grace can talk first, at least.
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"Looks like… You’re under arrest, detective." Grace tries to sound cool. "You’re going to regret this. I’m the crown jewel of this police force." James tries to sound cool.
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ā€œThe situation is surely regrettable for at least one of us.ā€ I don’t know if this is me trying to sound cool or what.
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"You’re going to tell us what we want or you’re going to die." Grace. "Go ahead. I’m more than ready to die for the cause of the police." James. "Fine. What about him?" Grace points her gun at Kingsley. Jessica James stares at him for a moment, before answering. "He knew the risks when he signed on."
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I forgot Kingsley was here, honestly.
2:14 PM
ā€œWhat is the cause of the police, then? To cover for criminals?ā€
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"To enact fair and equal justice. As decided by the people for the people. Not by lowlife scum like you." James.
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ā€œIt seems ā€˜the people’ is quite an exclusive club.ā€
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"An exclusive club? All you need to do is obey the laws as written. To not take matters into your own hands. Why do people who can’t be bothered to fit into a society deserve to be heard over those who do?" James. "Not everyone gets that choice. For some of us… It’s breaking the law or dying… In a sense." Grace almost whispers that last part. "I’ve already made it clear what choice to make with my own decision." James.
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ā€œDo you think that makes you noble? It does not. It makes you a blithe idiot. The law serves humanity. Not the inverse. It can be disposed of by an individual’s will when it becomes a negative.ā€
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"The law is humanity. It’s humanity in its purest form, sculpted by centuries of people coming together to understand right from wrong." James.
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ā€œIs the process finished, then?ā€
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"That’s not for me to decide. Not for either of you, either."
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ā€œOf course. Let me just call my buddy, Belto Shelk.ā€
2:43 PM
I kick her.
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"The president of the United States is not your 'buddy'." James. "Look, we’re on your side here. We’re also trying to catch a criminal." Grace. "I’m not the kind of person who watches dogfighting." James.
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ā€œI wonder what it’s called when pigs get involved, then.ā€ I feign like I’m about to hit her again, but don’t. Let’s just get this over with. Hundred bucks says she doesn’t even fucking know anything. ā€œWho killed Michelle [Her last name, which I learned and now know]? This is the primary case of relevance. You may feign ignorance or hold onto your pathetic wretched principles. Perhaps your faith in your tolerance for interrogation methods is indeed well placed.ā€ There. Was that so fucking hard, Grace?
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The detective's cold expression suddenly changes into a smirk. "That girl? You're looking for her murderer?"
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ā€œIn a manner of speaking.ā€
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"I suppose you're in luck. I can tell you that much." James. "...What?" Grace.
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ā€œGo ahead. If this is some manner of trick, I’d still be curious to hear that.ā€
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"The victim visited a therapist a while before she died. Carolyn Blythe." James. "That has nothing to do with it." Grace replies overly aggressively.
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ā€œOkay, yeah. Thought it was her, honestly.ā€ A boring answer.
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"It's not her! Don't be ridiculous! She... She cares about-" Grace cuts herself off. "Of course. I don't suspect her. I can't." This claim sounds almost mechanical. "See?" Grace.
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ā€œI don’t see, actually, no.ā€
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"There was a red car that was sighted driving in front of the house where she died." James gives a more specific description of the car's details. "That's all the info I know." It doesn't take much to know she's lying. "Wait... I've seen that car." Grace. "She was riding it, but the driver was... That old man."
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ā€œWas he an old man…? It’s ā€˜Gus’, right?ā€
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"Yeah. Him." Grace nods. "Gus Amon. A failure of a detective. Do you know what happened to him?" James.
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ā€œHe died. Awfully convenient. Or inconvenient.ā€
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"Correct. Do you know in who's apartment with who's gun?" James.
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ā€œI would guess Carolyn for both, yet I have no actual knowledge. Johnner, too, is likely connected to this.ā€
4:10 PM
ā€œYou also might be implying he killed himself. Heard that one before.ā€
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"It was Carolyn." James nods. Grace starts pacing back and forth in distress. "That's not all the death I could connect to her, though. When you start looking for it... Every single patient Carolyn Blythe has ever treated was murdered a few days to a weeks after they finished their treatment." James.
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ā€œPerhaps it’s some kind of mysterious reaper? Mustn’t be too hasty, of course.ā€ I speak very obviously sarcastically.
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"There. Are you satisfied?" James. Kingsley starts to wake up.
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ā€œNot in the sense that I think any of this was worth the effort. Well, I guess the idea of this being a pattern is useful… regardless. I’m satisfied in the sense that I’m willing to end the conversation here.ā€ Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me Grace don’t fuck things up for me
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Kingsley looks up at Dana. "…Dana?" James suddenly turns to Kingsley. "Who?" "Uh- Nothing. I was just thinking about a girl I was dreaming about." He quickly tries to cover this up. "I thought you were gay." James. "Based on… What exactly?" Kingsley.
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I stare at this conversation. Of course. Of course I’m recognized. I’ll probably have to off Jessica later if this is going to become a problem… Tch, whatever. Honestly, what was I thinking with this? ā€œI would not profile him as such based on any perceivable surface level characteristics.ā€ The masked assailant provides her two cents. Now… what? Do I just run, or do I knock them out and drop them off somewhere? Does Grace have a—no, of course she doesn’t. Ugh. Hmmm…
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Kingsley tries to mouth a message to you. ((Roll))
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((14))
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The specific sentence is unclear but you recognize the name Detective Scott and that the contents of the sentence are a question. (edited)
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ā€œWell, I don’t really know. Probably not.ā€ I elaborate (on the subject of Kingsley being gay, of course.) ā€œAnyway.ā€ I attempt to knock Jessica out again.
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((Roll))
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((8 šŸ™ƒ ))
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She’s still conscious. "Is that the best you scum can do." Grace grabs Dana's shoulder suddenly. There’s clearly something wrong with her. "I solved the mystery. Follow me." She leaves in a hurry.
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ā€œI hate everything.ā€ I run after her. Fine. The fleeing option. Sure.
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This woman is approaching the building Dana runs out of. Grace ignores her.
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I don’t. I very visibly stare, but keep running. Probably the inevitable reinforcements. Uh, maybe? No, they wouldn’t just send one fucking guy. Uh…
4:38 PM
Regardless, I need to stay close to Grace. My only escape plan should things go bad is claiming I was coerced by her somehow.
4:38 PM
I’m running.
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Grace gets in the police car.
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I forgot about that. Sure, let’s take this highly visible vehicle we hijacked in broad daylight. Hey, remember when you hated me for just… talking to your therapist, or something? I enter the car. ā€œWhat are you doing.ā€
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She starts driving without answering.
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ā€œLook, sometimes the answer sucks. At least you know.ā€
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"What are you talking about? I told you, I solved it."
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ā€œOkay, cool…?ā€ Whatever she is talking about cannot be good.
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She stops in front of Carolyn's office and gets out of the car.
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This is an obviously bad idea. Can I run quickly enough on foot…? Or should I stick with my original plan? I sigh. Does any of it matter? This isn’t supposed to be my story. I’m… I have a girlfriend now! I matter to people! I can’t just throw everything out for no reason! I exit the car.
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Grace runs in.
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I need to… save mys… … She’s crazy. She’ll probably think I’m a traitor if I leave now. I… I enter the building.
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Grace has taken off her mask and is holding her gun. Carolyn is inside, talking to these 2 people which you don't recognize.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / carolyn-and-dana
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Forgoing subtlety, then? I remove my Gas Mask. It’s outlived its purpose.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 5:05 PM
"..." Carolyn claps her hands together and smiles "What a surprising visit. I had thought you were trying to live your life on your own? I do hope nothing terrible has happened over the past day that made you feel the need to return to therapy?"
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ā€œWho are these people.ā€ I don’t care about that, I only care about gathering information.
5:05 PM
Gesturing towards the men Dana Craig, me, doesn’t know.
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"That's of no concern to you right now." The man in the white suit. "My name is Matrick. Matrick Patthews. Is... Am I in danger?" The other guy.
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ā€œTheoretically. I don’t really know.ā€ I shake my head. Well, Grace? What’s so important, huh? What do you need to be here for?
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"I know you did it, Carolyn." Grace. The man in the white suit discreetly reaches into his pocket. "You killed Gus Amon. Because he killed Michelle, didn't he? You were trying to help me." Grace.
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ā€œOh my fucking god. What?ā€
5:11 PM
ā€œOkay, first of all, I thought you hated her. Second of all, no? What???ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 5:12 PM
"That..." Carolyn sighs "You wish to accuse me of murder here? I do believe I owe you an explanation, and I trust that you, of all people, will not turn me into the police, were your guess true. But we are in the company of others who I would not trust with that same generosity. Perhaps we could speak privately?"
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"I trust Dana." Grace. "I don't... I don't trust myself here... Could I leave?" Matrick.
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ā€œIf the implication is asking me to leave, that’s fine. There’s probably no shortage of better places to be right now.ā€ I shrug. Wait no Grace don’t make me stay here no you fucking don’t you don’t trust me shut up what
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 5:15 PM
"That depends, Matrick. You've assisted in turning me into the police once before, how can I trust you won't be that rash and call them as soon as you leave?" She turns to look him in the eyes "Will you make the same mistake again?"
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ā€œOkay, so like. None of the people here are the police then. Right?ā€
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"No- No... I wouldn't... Because, well... You're free aren't you? Clearly they've realized you're innocent." Matrick. "Yes, exactly. It's famously impossible for the police to be wrong." The man in the white suit.
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ā€œOh, I like this guy.ā€ I chuckle. White suit mans the best one, I decided. Aside from me. Can’t really place myself that way.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 5:20 PM
Carolyn smiles "Very well, you may leave, Matrick. Do have an excellent day, won't you?"
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"W-Will do!" He runs out.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 5:23 PM
"Alright, let us continue, then. You trust Dana, and I trust my associate here, so these should be acceptable conditions for our discussion." She turns to Dana "Ms. Craig, you do seem to have an issue with Grace's reasoning. Can I ask what problem you're having currently?"
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ā€œI think you’re a therapist who kills people because you’re insane, mostly.ā€
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"That makes no sense, Dana." Grace. "I find it a reasonable assumption." The man in the white suit.
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ā€œIt’s not really supposed to make sense. Not to me, at least. But it answers everything. Why would my straight laced friend too much of a goody-two-shoes to even breach politeness in the worst job ever get involved with the mob? She didn’t. She just went to a therapist. Why would a therapist be connected to all of this? She did it. I mean, fuck, didn’t her dad run a suicide cult? I feel like if you’re gonna have a trade like this it needs to be regulated. Who watches the watchmen, y’know? Anyway, that’s my two cents. ā€˜What are you gonna do about it, then’ would be a different question, eheh.ā€ Frankly, this all barely feels real, somehow.
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Grace shrugs over-exaggeratedly. "That’s… It’s complicated, okay?"
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ā€œI find it quite simple, actually. But sure, whatever. I don’t actually know this woman, and you do, in some respect.ā€
5:34 PM
(( pov: dana craig has showed up, for some reason, and is like, riffing on your route??? https://youtu.be/_V2sBURgUBI ))
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 5:35 PM
"I apologize for your poor impression of me, Ms. Craig. My religious upbringing certainly gave me some difficult to shake ideas, but I assure you, it has no impact on my performance in this position. Regardless, I do not know if Michelle truly got involved with the mob. I do not know if Gus Amon killed her..." Carolyn shakes her head "But I do know he confessed the crime to me nonetheless... He confessed it before taking his own life. I attempted to talk him out of it, it was all I could do when he was armed and I was not, but I do believe I was partly responsible. I made him realize the error of his ways, and that guilt overwhelmed him."
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ā€œWow, what a story. Damn shame. Anyway, what about the others? Feels like being a client of yours is the most unlucky job in America. We’re all fellow inmates here, right? Why not drop the pretense?ā€ How do you upset someone already so thoroughly twisted in such a manner, I wonder? ā€œWish the apple fell a little closer to the tree for me, frankly. Coulda done with my dad’s work ethic! I’m sure you’ve done yours prouder than I ever could, miss.ā€ I dunno. I can just say fucking whatever here. Who cares?
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"What are you talking about, Dana?" Grace. "It must be a rather unlucky job, yes. Usually you get paid for a job, but here you have to pay to talk to her." The man in the white suit.
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ā€œExactly! Really. What’s the deal with therapists, honestly. Weird thing we all just kind of accept as necessary for unavoidable reasons.ā€ I turn to Grace. ā€œI don’t know, was I unclear at any point?ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 5:44 PM
Carolyn's smile returns upon hearing Dana's words "My father is a subject of discussion for another time, Ms. Craig. But do know I harbor no ill will against him. He was the victim of the tragic misunderstanding by the justice system. I do appreciate your comforting words regarding our relationship, nonetheless."
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"Being her client isn’t that bad… She’s just… really willing to help people." Grace. The man in the white suit mutters something in exasperation.
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ā€œYeah, help people with what? It’s like that whole argument where the civil war was about states rights. Grace, do you think you’re treating this situation in a detached and rational manner, at least past the personal desire to do right by someone you’ve lost? It doesn’t really seem that way where I’m standing.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 6:01 PM
"What do I help people with? Well, that depends on the client does it not? That's why we need therapists, a specialized helping hand. Grace needed to get back on her feet, to find a mentality that would let her live life to the fullest. Though, I would never take responsibility for her reaching that, it's a journey she had to endeavor herself. I merely gave her... a participating audience. One that won't stop watching until the curtains drop."
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ā€œAnd every show has to end some day, huh?ā€
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"Now's not exactly the time to get poetic. She’s going to take everything you say as maliciously as possible. And I would assume you don’t want this to end… Badly." The man in the white suit. "Dana, stop it. I know you want to help me, but Carolyn isn’t a bad person." Grace.
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ā€œHonestly, that’s the weirdest part of all this. What do you mean you think I want to help you? Don’t you fucking hate me, still? Grobber said you straight up warned him about me being bad news. It’s like everything about the entirety of my first meeting with Carolyn just never happened.ā€ I turn to white suit guy. ā€œTo be clear, is this you threatening me? I guess I’ll probably shut up if it is.ā€
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He smirks. "I’m simply a passionate fan of Carolyn's. Nothing for you to concern yourself with." "It’s… I was in a bad place, okay? I don’t… Can we not discuss this right now?" Grace.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 6:10 PM
Carolyn nods "Saying things you come to regret, pushing away those that mean most to you... it's not something that should be held against anyone. Grace has been given time, and she's recovered just fine. We should be proud of her progress."
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ā€œI see. I see. I get it now. What happened. You’re good at this, Blythe. I wish I could do thatā€¦ā€ I get unironically like, wistful? What the fuck? About the manipulation abilities of some abuser? Wow, okay. I mean, I wouldn’t do it in service of fucking killing people. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to get people to like you, or stop hating you. Every interaction between people is manipulative, in that sense. This is a silly thing to reflect on.
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"What are you talking about, Dana?" Grace.
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ā€œI just don’t think this kinda talk would sound out of place from fuckin’ Stella Kowalski.ā€ I had to read Streetcar Named Desire in highschool. I couldn’t think of any other abused spouses in fiction, or reality, for that matter.
6:16 PM
((Worst Dana message.))
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"I don’t remember who that is." Grace. "It doesn’t matter, right?" The man in the white suit.
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ā€œI don’t know. Matter? What doesn’t… I mean, I’ve got my hands full, I’m not gonna try to fix Grace’s life or whatever. Obviously she isn’t interested in my personal views on it. I’m just a little wary of, y’knowā€¦ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 6:23 PM
Carolyn clears her throat "Grace, if you wouldn't mind, I actually had a bit of a curiosity. That mask, and your gun... What exactly were you doing before coming here? If it is appropriate for me to inquire regarding the matter."
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The man in the white suit looks at Carolyn silently. "That’s… Not important. I was just worried you’d try to kill me for knowing you killed Gus Amon. Not that… Obviously you wouldn’t." Grace. "Wow. Genius." The man in the white suit.
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ā€œIt was really important we waste our time. Hey, wouldn’t it be funny if every fucking one of us got cornered in this building and arrested? What a great ending that would be.ā€ I’m not mad. I’m relaxed about this, and the current situation.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 6:29 PM
"I see. I do not blame you for taking this precaution. In fact, I see it as quite the good sign that you are taking steps to protect your own life. It is the most valuable possession you have, after all. I was actually a bit concerned that these items indicated you were turning to a life of crime. I am glad to hear this was unfounded, we wouldn't want you endangering yourself."
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"I’m… sorry for disappointing you." Grace. "This is just disturbing." The man in the white suit facepalms. "You were supposed to hate her more than that."
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ā€œFuck, why am I here?! Did I even actually help you with anything??? And at the end of it you can’t even accept the answer we so clearly arrive at! You know I have more to my life than just being a convenience for you so you can inconvenience me, right?! Hell, I just earlier today left my girlfriend in a pretty tight spot and I still don’t know if she’s okay! Yeah, I have one now! Did you know that??? Of course not!!!!! You don’t know—Nobody knows anything about Dana Craig!ā€ Okay, this is getting kind of dumb, I should probably calm down.
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"You have a girlfriend? I thought you were straight." Grace.
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ā€œWell, so did I! Sort of? I guess no one really knows anything about me, universally!ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 6:35 PM
"Ms. Craig... I think perhaps you should take a moment to collect yourself. You clearly feel neglected by your current support systems. If you wish for someone to hear you out and learn about you, I do have quite the open schedule right now."
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ā€œOh, what a great fucking suggestion. You wanna know something funny? See, it’s not just arbitrarily. Not even just the criteria of people who are your patients. They get offed when they’re discharged, right? When you and them are ā€˜finished’. I’d still be fucking immortal even if I drank your kool-aid, because you’d never think I meet whatever dumbass standards you have, woman.ā€ I pause. ā€œIt was actually an offbrand drink though. Flavor-aid. Wasn’t Kool-aid.ā€
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"I was discharged, Dana. I’m still alive. That doesn’t make any sense." Grace.
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ā€œHow about that. How long ago, then?ā€
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"Yesterday. Kind of." Grace.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 6:45 PM
"I will choose to ignore your comments regarding my business practices, and focus on what I believe to be the true meaning your outburst. You are saying you are unfixable? That you would never reach a point where therapy is no longer needed? I do agree with you, Ms. Craig. Everyone is unfixable in their own way. It's about learning to cope with problems that may never fade, about doing what you can to live a happy life in spite of them."
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"…Yeah." Grace.
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ā€œWell, that’s defeatist. That a first session kinda line, or do you get to know them first before you call them unfixable?ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 6:53 PM
"It all depends on the client, Ms. Craig. You already understand your situation, so I see no point hiding the truth from you."
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ā€œYeah, I do kinda know everything.ā€
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"Is everything resolved then? You 2 have no reason to be here anymore." The man in the white suit. "No… She still hasn’t admitted she killed Gus." Grace.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:05 PM
"What... led you to the conclusion that this happened, Grace? It was certainly not an accusation I expected you to levy against me."
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I laugh. ā€œYeah, that’s the thing to worry about. Actuallyā€¦ā€ My expression shifts. ā€œGus wasn’t one of your clients, was he? You just knew him for other reasons.ā€ (edited)
7:06 PM
((Dana’s express train shifts into overdrive.))
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"Because it’s true." Grace.
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Carolyn Blythe
"What... led you to the conclusion that this happened, Grace? It was certainly not an accusation I expected you to levy against me."
((To this to be clear))
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:12 PM
"Indeed, Dana. Mr. Amon had a grudge against me. It is a bit of a long story, but he was fired from the police force upon being caught attempting to pervert justice on the case regarding my father's religious group. He attempted to ruin my life as his had been. I held no ill will against him for this, but... when I found out what he had done to Michelle..." Carolyn sighs and shakes her head "I had to remove him from the picture... I could not let him do the same to Grace. Who knows how many of my clients he would go after. I admit it, I killed Gus Amon."
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ā€œClever, yeah. Definitely the right resolution to this dilemma for you. But honestly, it makes things worse for me, hah.ā€
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"You what?" The man in the white suit. "…I knew it." Grace smiles softly.
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Dana keeps fucking talking even if no one cares. ā€œA lot of them have sort of like, patterns they rigidly stick to no matter what. Y’know, always exclusively a specific profile victim even if it makes getting away with it harder. So that would be good for me. But I’m in trouble if you really are willing to kill anyone when it benefits you.ā€
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"It was a special case, Dana." Grace.
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ā€œSure thing. Why not just trust getting the culprit to the pol-gehahaha, fucking, okay. I can’t say that one with a straight face. Grace, are you done here?ā€ (edited)
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"…Yeah."
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:19 PM
"It's been a pleasure seeing both of you again. Grace, I still wish you nothing but the best of luck in living your life to its fullest. And Dana, I hope things work out between you and your partner."
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"Goodbye forever, Carolyn. For real this time." Grace left.
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I don’t follow her. I close the door to the room we’re in. ā€œHope it was for real, at least.ā€
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"If this is a threat, I wouldn’t recommend it." The man in the white suit.
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ā€œNo, no, it isn’t. I have no real interest in killing myself to stop Carolyn or stop you from being a fan of hers, or whatever. This is negotiation. Welcome to the war room.ā€ I smugly put my hands in my pockets. ā€œWe’re all adults here, right? No reason we can’t act in mutual interest.ā€
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He puts his hand in his, as if threateningly reaching for a weapon.
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ā€œWhat, you want to fucking kill me? Leave a body in Carolyn Blythe’s office? Go ahead, moron.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:28 PM
"My associate here has some behavioral issues, do not mind him, he's harmless." She waves her empty hands in front of herself "I, as well, am not a threat to you. If you wish for a discussion, you have certainly come to the right person, Ms. Craig. What do you wish to negotiate?"
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ā€œJust information, really. I’m a straightforward woman. My sole interest is uncovering the truth. Or something. I’ll start, as a show of good faith. Grace is lying. She has a mask and a gun because she kidnapped a police officer and drove here from that site using a stolen police vehicle.ā€ I wave a hand in front of my face. ā€œHope you don’t tell her I said that! Client confidentiality, or something.ā€
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The man in the white suit nods.
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:33 PM
"Yes, I had assumed something along those lines. Do you believe she will get caught for this crime? That series of events does not sound exactly easy to perform in a way that does not leave a trail."
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ā€œI think she contacted me thinking, for some reason, that I would know how to commit crimes well, and then even after that did it in the most unsubtle blunt way imaginable. By the way, the officer… do you know her? Jessica James?ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:36 PM
"I see no point in answering dishonestly. We've met once before, when she arrested me for the murder of Gus Amon. Of course, she had a change of heart upon new details coming to light."
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ā€œI would love to know those details. Why can she not suspect you? What did you do to her, Carolyn?ā€ I grin. It is an ugly, despicable face. ā€œThe way you phrased that makes me think nothing has really changed with Grace gone. Hmā€¦ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:42 PM
"Do you believe the police inform witnesses of their investigation progress? She visited the location of the crime once again, and then released me. She was a very straightforward woman, the kind that wears her heart on her sleeve. I'm sure if she won't suspect me, then it simply does not fit with the facts she's found."
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ā€œUpstanding citizen. Trusts in our city’s institutions. Swell.ā€ I sigh. ā€œYou watch a lot of movies, Carolyn? I have. Media in general. It’s a decent way to pass the time in between the grueling 9-to-5.ā€ (edited)
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:46 PM
"I would not describe it as one of my hobbies, but I've certainly dabbled. It helps clients to have common discussion grounds. Michelle was like that, a big fan of Con Air. I purchased it myself upon hearing her enthusiasm for it."
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ā€œHaha… wow, that’s wild. In general I feel like I hardly care, but hearing you say thatā€¦ā€ I grit my teeth, enraged, then force my expression back to normal. Con Air…? …man, that movie sucked. I guess it suits her. No offense meant, really. ā€œSo I’ve been thinking about it myself. Y’know, creating, and not just consuming. Got this new plot worked out, just a low budget amateur production, and I want to hear your thoughts. I figure a shrink would know about the strange ways different kinds of people can rationalize and perceive the world, so I thought it might be worthwhile.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 7:55 PM
"That's certainly a commendable aspiration. Wishing to capture an accurate picture of humanity in your film. If it is a pursuit that you believe will bring you fulfillment, I would be happy to discuss the details of your script."
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ā€œGreat. Yeah, fulfilling. So — and again, this is all a made up tale, nothing that means anything legally — the film has a villain protagonist of sorts. Therapist Murderpeople. …I haven’t actually worked out any names yet, I’m gonna sit down and come up with some cool ones with meaningful etymology and stuff. Just placeholders at the moment.ā€ I remove my hands from my pocket and energetically gesture while describing my ingenious film. ā€œSo, the thing about her is that she’s a therapist and she kills people. That’s the parts of the premise set in stone, and I’m afraid that can’t budge for the story I’m telling. Lot of stuff is open-ended beyond that, but she’s a therapist and she kills a lot of her clients.ā€ I pace back and forth. ā€œSo someone finds this out. Is able to understand, even if they aren’t a direct witness, what Therapist is doing. The ā€˜Death Conceiver’. Call it DC for short. The thing about DC is that she’s not even that smart. She sort of stumbles Forrest Gump style into this information, and then, the key to this relationship — she can’t tell anyone without tightening the noose around her own neck. Like the scorpion and the frog. Now, I’m no good at mysteries.ā€ I smile and shake my head with real, believably humility. ā€œI’m the type of guy who just uses a guide playing Ace Attorney. So the logistical details I’m a little uncertain on. There’s two main questions I need to sort out for this plot to function.ā€ I hold up one finger. ā€œFirst of all, how does this even work? If Therapist Murderpeople is so unsubtle that some complete nobody like DC can put together the idea she’s doing this, how is she not caught? I guess it could maybe be something as simple as bribery, but that feels off somehow.ā€
8:10 PM
I hold up a second finger. ā€œThe other bit is the motive, sorta the heart. Might be what you can tell me more about as someone who knows psychology. Why? Why would someone do that? One aspect, like… I think an important facet of the story is that DC, for all the mayhem and danger she gets into, isn’t going to be killed by Murderpeople. That’s how their dynamic operates. So what are her standards and reasons for selecting victims that won’t include DC?ā€ I look expectantly. Honestly, I doubt this’ll fucking work, even when it’s obvious it should. But it’s worth a try.
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"Sounds like a nice bit of fiction."
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ā€œThanks, man.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 8:20 PM
Carolyn listens attentively through Dana's rant, and upon hearing the end of it, she closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, then looks Dana straight in the eyes "Do you plan for this film to have a happy ending, Dana?"
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"A happy ending? There’s no ending to a story with a villain protagonist that could ever be 'happy'. This therapist would have to somehow be a correct and noble hero… Which, naturally, a deranged murderer could never be."
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ā€œWell, that depends on a lot of things. I mean, it’s never straightforward for stories where the protagonist isn’t a clear-cut good guy. Like, in Death Noteā€”ā€œ No, this woman is like thirty. She wouldn’t watch anime. ā€œYeah, what he said, kinda. Though I’m not sure I’d go that far.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 8:29 PM
"I see." She takes a seat on a couch that is also in the lobby, while maintaining eye contact "I can't say I'm a fan of stories with downer endings. After all, the last scene of a movie will be what you remember most, no? Why would you want the emotion you bring about in your audience to be so melancholic? Heavens knows there's already enough of that in our lives. If something is going to live on, it should be in its happiest state, don't you think? Cameron Poe reunites with his loving wife and child. That's where his story ends. Con Air ends as a happy film. It's beautiful, it truly is."
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"If only life worked so well, no?"
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ā€œLive on? I mean, the movie ends. Anything beyond that is out of its scope. Ain’t canon. Unless you mean like, how it lives on in the minds of those who are left inā€¦ā€ I stop myself. My eyes widen. Left… the… happiest… She can’t be that ((Dana canonically thinks the r slur.)) right? It’s just sadism, right? Come on. ā€œTh…That doesn’t really make sense to me. Have you seen Inception?ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 8:45 PM
Carolyn sighs "I do not expect you to understand Ms. Craig. My media taste is... one could say unique, but I prefer to think of it as the most efficient line of thought. Regardless, I will listen to your refutation. It has been some time, but yes, I've gone through a viewing of the film Inception once before."
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ā€œEveryone talks about the ending, and yeah, I get it, bravo Nolan, he came up with an ambiguous conclusion, good for him. But who cares? I mean, the moment means anything only because of a lot of setup, but aside from that, I mean — I never saw DiCaprio’s kids as important beyond a plot device. Like, it’s something easy to explain, because of course you’re supposed to love your family. But it meant nothing to me. What really— I mean, the part of the two hour fifteen minute or whatever clusterfuck I care about — is where Time plays.ā€ I laugh softly to myself. ā€œOh, man, I get it now. This is like… the Hannibal Lecter thing. Once you’re asking the questions, you can take control of the situation. That’s pretty fucking cool, I have to admit. Hmā€¦ā€ I do love listening to myself talk, but…
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"Are you going to ramble on forever?"
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ā€œWell, she kind of answered one of my questions. I guess the other is less important. I’ll figure it out soon enough if I keep digging. This isn’t really about that anymore. This isā€¦ā€ Fuck it. ā€œHe gets to be with the woman he loves. Who loves him. For eons, because of the way the mechanics of dreams work, in a world they can shape as they please. That’s amazing. And I’m sure any ending there would suck ass, any individual moment mean nothing. It’s just a lengthy day to day life. It’s mildly pleasant at best, and probably boring sometimes. But that’s incredible. It’s what… I mean, that’s the reason people live. That kind of power and possession and accomplishment, and the process of reveling in it. Right? I think that’s why there’s anything to the protagonist of Inception at all. And you can go have some little ankle biters or whatever to satiate evolution, but that’s not the point. I think happiness only matters when you can wake up with it most days. Otherwise I’d just do crack.ā€ I have a pretty complicated expression, a frown deluded into a smile trying to appear neutral. Honestly? It’s probably best to leave before I say any more. I can really only make things worse. This whole aside isn’t a part of my life, it’s an unpleasant distraction. But… ugh. ā€œEvery movie’s gotta end at some point, and I won’t fault the director for his vision. Or for what he thinks he has to do to make money. It’s a dog eat dog world. Gotta do what you can. Like, Michael Bay has never made anything good, but we live in capitalism, and I kinda have to respect the genius of his hustle. But if one of them said that kinda shit you just did, treating the idea of ending as some holy ideal to excuse just cutting away before it can actually show anything compelling… I think they’d be a hack, Ms Blythe.ā€ I shrug. It’s just film discussion, after all. No need to make a big thing out of it.
9:08 PM
ā€œAlso, the movie involves the group of protagonists incidentally helping a young man come to terms with his late father and their relationship, forging his own path and living a happier life, all while their actual main goal they accomplish is robbing him blind. I thought that was funny.ā€
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"I don’t think this is really the time for film discussion, as much as your perspective might interest some. Carolyn here is of the stubborn variety, you could say."
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 9:21 PM
Carolyn's face holds one of the most genuine smiles she's felt in a while "A world of endless happiness. A day to day life that you can shape to your will. You understand, Ms. Craig, what very few in this world do. I've dumbed down my thoughts for a beginner in this field of thought, but you've caught onto the problem perfectly. Happiness only matters when it cannot end. A film ends and is gone forever, it's not a true infinite state of happiness, just a simulated one in our mind, a trick in a world full of them. No matter how much you convince yourself that this time you're fixed, that everything will be okay... you're wrong. There is only one escape, one place people can experience eternal bliss."
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"Carolyn, I really don’t think this conversation should continue…"
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ā€œWow. That’s nice to hear. Hope you find that.ā€ Freak. I reply to suit man. ā€œYeah, sure, I’ve said my piece. You can go back to your very serious business now.ā€ I turn around and open the door. ā€œI’ll stay out of your hair, so I hope, as a small favor, if there’s some ambush waiting for me outside in connection with any crime, you’ll testify that Grace totally put me under all hells of duress. See you.ā€
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Carolyn Blythe 5/27/2023 9:24 PM
"Goodbye, Dana. Please, do consider what I've said here. I would love you see you join us one day."
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I cackle as I leave. It’s all I can think to do. Guess that probably makes me look like the lunatic. But come on. What other response is there to that?
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((Channel split))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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I have nothing to say at this time.
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Grace is waiting outside. "Hey, Dana… What took you so long?"
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ā€œOh, you’re still here. Huh. I, uh, wanted to check something. And… I thought her connections could be useful in helping keep us out of trouble for all this nonsense. Didn’t quite get all I wanted on that front, but it was a worthwhile conversation.ā€
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"I was planning to leave… But for some reason I can’t understand, I started to get scared. Do you think I could… Stay with you tonight? You’re somehow the closest person I have left."
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ā€œOkay.ā€ Wait, no, I said that without thinking. Fuck. Okay. Fine. Ariel… I mean, she still just has her own apartment, she won’t even know.
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"…Thanks." She hugs Dana. She’s shaking slightly.
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I… well, this isn’t unpleasant…
9:33 PM
ā€œYeah. It’s fine. I know this was a lot.ā€
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"I don’t know what you’re talking about. Today was the happiest day of my life." She’s still shaking. "Because people finally did something for me."
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ā€œI don’tā€¦ā€ … … … I don’t finish this sentence.
9:37 PM
ā€œShe was right about one thing. I shouldn’t have just randomly brought up you being annoyed at me. We’re not defined by our low points. Apologies.ā€
9:37 PM
Is this like… okay?
9:39 PM
I mean, she admitted it. I’m just… the only option. Michelle’s dead. Grobber’s out of the picture, probably for good. And I think some part of her must realize she can’t interact with Carolyn again.
9:40 PM
Ariel wasn’t so explicit, but… I mean, I can’t shake what that asshole said about her… even if he’s wrong, it’s just… I keep having to deal with her exes, somehow…
9:40 PM
Am I only good as a replacement?
9:40 PM
Wait.
9:40 PM
I let out a short, inexplicable laugh.
9:40 PM
Of course I am, right?
9:41 PM
That’s my power.
9:41 PM
Funny.
9:43 PM
ā€œYeah.ā€ I, Dana Craig, say yeah to Grace ā€œWightā€ Rollins at the end(?) or at least somewhat late point of the eighth day starting count at the day of my first meeting with Ehn. ā€œLet’s go. I’m exhausted.ā€
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"Alright. I guess we shouldn’t use that car, right?"
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ā€œYeah, I… Honestly, I’d want to light a match and blow the thing up if that weren’t obviously a bad idea. We can walk, it’s not that far.ā€
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"Alright." She starts walking.
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I’m Dana Craig and I’m walking
9:47 PM
9:49 PM
((A credits sequence ā€œwhere are they nowā€ epilogue plays. Grace and Ariel both abandoned Dana for one another. Carolyn thought about it and realized killing people was bad. Jessica and Kingsley starved to death in the abandoned building; their bodies were never found. Patthew finally solved that incident from back in 87 that has been haunting him all these years. No one knows what happened to that white suit guy, or the other suit woman. Bob Smith is still around.))
9:50 PM
ā€œBy the way, Grace, do you know who that guy with her was?ā€
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"I’ve only met him once. A friend of Carolyn’s, I guess. He walked in when we ki-" She stops herself. "When we said goodbye."
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… ā€œā€¦Okay. Well, there’s two words that could have been, and bothā€¦ā€ I shake my head. ā€œWhatever.ā€
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She stops, silently looking up at the Free News Network building for a moment.
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Of course; the Free News Network building. I look up at it. ā€œNever liked Shelk, honestly. He can go die for all I care.ā€
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"My father is in there right now. I’m… supposed to be living with him again. It was supposed to feel right… He cares about me, and so I can live my life safely and healthily… But I look up there, and I’m just… Terrified. The thought of seeing him again… It makes me want to curl up into a ball and die." She turns back to Dana. "How was your father?"
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ā€œI don’t know.ā€ I pause for a moment. ā€œOkay, that’s a stupid answer, I’m not an orphan and obviously I know. I’m just not sure what to say. I mean, unless some extreme circumstances happen, everyone’s just gonna think their parents are what a normal family is like. Already what you’ve said about your dad feels so confusing to me. But if I had to answerā€¦ā€ I pause to think.
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It’s a night where Dana Craig is unusually open. ā€œUnreachable. And then all too reachable. I don’t know if we were ever that close. I can think of a few nice memories if I try, I guess. But he was out a lot. Work. He gave everything to his job, it feels like, and in return he got nothing but being worn out. I guess I shouldn’t complain when I benefited so much from that work.ā€ I finally pry my eyes away from the stunningly captivating Free News Network building. ā€œI think… I mean, it was its own kind of shock seeing him reduced to a state where he can’t even walk. But if I’m gonna have my psychoanalyst fodder problem that’ll never leave me as long as I live, it’s probably mom.ā€
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ā€œShe was even more unreachable. She had that same insane ability I’ll never get, the one to wake up and seize the day and show up to work and any obligations and go ā€˜hell yeah, I’m gonna do this!’. The one I don’t think I’ll ever… I don’t know. And she never seemed worn out from it like my father. That’s why she was able to be so much more active in my life, I think, why I remember her so much more often. She never stopped. She was incredible. Itā€¦ā€ I’m shaking a little. From fear? Discomfort? Rage? It doesn’t matter. I shut that motion down. ā€œIt scared the shit out of me as I approached adulthood. I worried I’d never reach her level. Be able to make it in the world, to look her in the face as an equal, as fellow grown ups, or do whatever sort of repayment you’re supposed to to the people who raised you.ā€ I smirk bitterly. ā€œWell, I don’t have to worry about if I’ll ever get there or not. Question answered. She quit while she was ahead, and I can never… it became a game without a win state.ā€ … ā€œI think I’m the bad guy.ā€
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She resumes walking. "Well... You certainly have the vibe for it, I think. But being the bad guy probably isn't so bad... I spent years of my life trying to be the bad guy. Trying to make people care for me even if it meant they hated me... Because I didn't really know anything else. That's the note I want to leave Grobber on. Someone he'll hate forever... That way I can almost be sure I meant something to him, you know? But you're not really the same kind of villain. You're like... Funny. The kind of girl people go to parties for. You make me think of... You know, that trope with the evil goofy villain, who... When you get to know them... It's like... Comforting? Like if they're the villain... You still want to root for them even more than the hero. That's my... Analysis of it, anyway. You probably know more about yourself than I do."
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I’m walking, yeah. ā€œHm. I guess I see it. Part of me wants to call you crazy, but I guess I’d agree that it’s better to have people hate you than not think of you at all.ā€ I glance at the sky. But of course there’s no stars. It’s a city. (Or maybe still daytime.) ā€œI think I’ve agreed most of my life. Tried to be the funny one, not holding onto ambitions above that. It’s just tricky when you lay it out explicitly like that. I mean, people like the comic relief, the dick dastardly, butā€¦ā€ I look at Grace, finally. ā€œDid you… love… Michelle? I don’t know if I’m honed at sensing this kind of subtext.ā€ (edited)
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She looks away. "…Yeah. She was the first time I ever felt loved. Like I was… Clay in her hands. I wish she’d been around long enough to finish molding me into someone worthwhile."
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ā€œI see.ā€ I think of apologizing, but don’t.
10:41 PM
ā€œI wonder… about that. I think people online make fun of both sides, the ā€˜I can fix her’ and ā€˜I can be fixed’. But it’s just… all human interaction. There isn’t as clear a division as people like to pretend. And there’s something really fucked up about that. I don’t trust anyone with that sort of power. That’s why I’ll never feel comfortable with the concept of therapy.ā€
10:42 PM
ā€œMaybe it’s why I’ll always just be the funny one.ā€
10:42 PM
ā€œNo matter how thoroughly I can wear the concepts and motifs of something moreā€¦ā€
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"If it helps... I like this you just the way she is."
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ā€œMhm. Thanks.ā€ I take a deep breath. If she doesn’t say anything for the rest of the way to my house, I don’t.
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"You said... You had a girlfriend. How does that... How does it feel? Love?"
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ā€œHaha. Oh boy, that’s… I wonder. I, when I spoke toā€¦ā€ Ah, no, she wasn’t there. But it is a good shorthand. That conversation with Carolyn, of the momentary vs the long-term… ā€œI don’t have the answer for how to… like, hold onto it. It feels like one of, likeā€¦ā€ I laugh. ā€œStupid example, but I can’t think of a better one, like, a videogame skybox, where past a certain point it doesn’t seem like you can get any closer. But I’ve had it, at least something close to it, at least at times. And it’sā€¦ā€ I think every answer I can give to this question will be really lame. ā€œIt’s not a big, passionate flare. Nothing loud, exciting. That’s lust. Love is… it’s like a negative. It’s getting through having to walk through a cold night and arriving at your warm home. It’s being able to lay down in bed after feeling exhausted all day. It’s just… it’s okay that I exist, and good that I exist, and there is someone here who is mine to have and validate in such a way.ā€ I might look like some blushing dweeb right now. ā€œIt’s thinking, ā€˜Yeah, this is it. I won. This was what it was all for.’. And then, if you want, until the rest of the world interrupts you, you don’t have to think anything else. It’sā€¦ā€ The passing, faint awareness of Genshin Gay Baby Jail. ā€œY-yeah… um, something like that. Probably.ā€
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"So when it’s passionate…? It’s just lust? Nothing real?"
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ā€œI wouldn’t… know.ā€ I look down.
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"What do you mean?"
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ā€œI mean, passion is one thing, and I kinda had that, maybe. That’s a vague word. The specific one, um… I’ve felt lust, or whatever… but not quite in a sense that’s real. Just for… not for people I get to interact with. I mean, a little. I do think she’s pretty, but… it’s complicated. And it hasn’t gone… y’know, uh, consummated.ā€ What. Why are you just telling her you’re a virgin what
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"For Michelle? I can understand that."
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ā€œWhat? No, my girlfriend. Michelle’s alright, I guess. I was always more — uh, never mind that.ā€ She’s not relevant anymore.
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"…Oh." They arrived.
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Right. ((is it eoc8 time or will there be more. i do not have an epic dana pre sleep monologue for this time because that was the past six hours))
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((It’s the end yeah))
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I direct Grace to my couch or whatever, and then sleep. (edited)
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"Goodnight, Dana."
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ā€œNight.ā€
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Dana falls asleep. ((End chapter))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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9: Anthropic Guilt
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana Craig awakens in a dark and unfamiliar valley. The only thing around is a long road that stretches off into the horizon in either direction. As is typical of dreams, this sight is not confusing to Dana in the slightest. Even though she does not recognize the area or know how she could have arrived here, she completely accepts her current circumstances.
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Well, okay. I don’t particularly tend to dream often… I look up at the sky.
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It’s dark.
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Well, yeah. ā€œUh.ā€ I attempt to make noise, with my mouth.
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It echoes, somehow. The rest of the world is deathly silent.
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Okay. I walk the lonely road; the only one that I have ever known.
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Dana feels like she walks for hours before the sound of a horse-drawn carriage appears behind her.
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Boring. Hm? I turn to the presumable horse.
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Ariel and Grace are driving the carriage. The horses they’re on are unremarkable.
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Oh, no. This is totally going to get weird. I examine the horses. There’s two? That’s interesting and worth noting.
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There are 2 horses.
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ā€œTwo of themā€¦ā€ Two of them.
6:05 PM
I force my subconscious to render the horses in further detail by scrutinizing if they look identical or are different horses.
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Pretty sure it’s just the same horse twice. Bizarre. Ugh. I’ve exhausted all my feasible horse-related ideas, and I don’t want to just be stuck in limbo. ā€œWhat is this?ā€ I say to the carriage I maybe forced to stop to stare at their horses for a good twenty minutes or something. Ariel and Grace don’t even know each other, brain. Idiot.
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"It’s a carriage." Ariel explains. "Don’t you want to go somewhere better?" Grace.
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ā€œKind of. I just figured this was it.ā€
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"This was what?" Grace. "It." Ariel explains.
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ā€œThe endless horizon, the lack of any light… I assumed it was supposed to entail that I’m not ā€˜supposed’ to be able to go anywhere else.ā€ I smirk, entering the vehicle. ā€œNothing against seeing if that’s wrong, though.ā€
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Jeff Johnner is sitting inside the carriage.
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ā€œOh, swell.ā€
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"Have a seat."
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I sit.
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The carriage starts to move.
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Yeah they tend to do that. ā€œAny more specifics about where this is going?ā€
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"Who would decide that?"
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ā€œI don’t know the chain of command here. Are we just letting the horses go wherever?ā€
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"Do you believe in god?"
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ā€œNot particularly.ā€ ((who is saying this))
7:24 PM
((still Jeff?))
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((Yes))
7:25 PM
"It's a yes or no question. What the hell does not particularly mean?"
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ā€œI don’t think there’s one. But how the fuck would I know? If there is one, He certainly keeps to Himself.ā€
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"I appreciate the capitalization." He smirks. "But if you did get to talk to him, what would you say?"
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ā€œProbably some nonsense about the meaning of life or whatever. Or if the stupid shit in the Bible happened. We’re talking about like, an old sky man, right? My answer could be different if this is Baal or something.ā€
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"I'd say none of them really got it."
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ā€œYeah, it seems least feasible anyone really made the right guess. …I’ll be so owned when I show up there and God’s a woman. And then She sends me to superhell.ā€
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He just starts laughing. "...Well. Surprise, Dana. You're talking to me."
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ā€œYeah, I got that, I think. From the time we interacted. You thought you were God? Or knew God? Also, you were probably in love with that guy I killed. It was a weird situation.ā€
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"No, the guy I look like right now wasn't into Marco Gould. He's into Grobber Brentwood. Regardless, the point is... You're talking to God right now."
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ā€œGrobber? Jeez. Well, anyway, that’s nice.ā€
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"So? What do you want to tell me?"
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ā€œWhy are you appearing to me, Dana Craig? I’m not gonna start a religion for you, let’s get that part clear.ā€
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"I'm not a narcissist like you, nor am I foolish enough to think that if you started a religion it'd be about anyone but yourself. I'm doing this out of curiosity. But to be clear, when you look back on this conversation, you'll think you dreamt about god being such a fan of you he stopped by for a visit. That'll really make you question your narcisstic tendencies." She will, in fact, remember it as that. Plausible deniability and all that.
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ā€œNo, I think it’s obvious I won’t. You’re kind of being a passive aggressive prick. Doesn’t sound like a Dana Craig fan.ā€
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"Can you conceptualize a person who isn't a passive aggressive prick to you?"
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I laugh. ā€œYes? Fucking obviously. But I’ll admit there’s some weird baggage to unpack if you’re actually something my mind created.ā€
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He chuckles. "But as I said, curiosity. A lot of people wear what they think of the very concept of me on their sleeve. There'll be a guy who'd do anything for me, or a guy who'll do anything to spite me. But you? I don't have a clue. I can't even quite tell if you hate yourself or you love yourself."
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ā€œI don’t. Either one doesn’t make sense. It’s like having a strong opinion on gravity. I’m me. No matter what. It’s only worth hating or loving what could vary.ā€
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"I know a man like that. The worst human on the planet, perhaps. I’m not sure you want to model yourself after him."
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ā€œI couldn’t model myself after someone I don’t know, but alright. For a god, you sure do have a lot of personal biases and things you aren’t aware of.ā€
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"…" That’s harsh. "Well, that’s not really the point of all this. You’re supposed to ask more complex questions. Like why you were born… Or why you suffer. Or maybe what happens when you die? That kind of existential question. I also accept the general advice questions."
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ā€œI feel like I know all of those already. I mean, when I die, that’s it, right? Nothing else.ā€ The scenery outside still the same?
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The scenery outside is still the same. "Maybe. I don’t actually care to answer that one, even if it’s expected. Knowing for sure what happens when you die kind of ruins the feeling."
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ā€œThat’s cool, whatever. In what sense do you claim to be God? Did you create the world I live in, or is this just a matter of power?ā€
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He smirks. "Why don’t I hit you with a question first? Obviously, I know the answer, but it’s amusing nonetheless. What are going to do about Grace?"
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I don’t know, idiot, what do you think am going to do about Grace? ā€œI dunno what you mean. If she imposes I’ll think of doing something, but it’s just one night.ā€
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"I don’t mean about her sleeping in your apartment. I meant the fact you’re already dating someone and reacting to her like that. Depending on who you ask, I might think this is sort of thing is a sin, you know?"
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ā€œOh, right. I don’t really plan on doing… anything?ā€ …Right? ā€œI don’t think I’d really have a chance, and… it’s too… homogenous. Grace is… she’s like me. Even being acquaintances was often a disaster. A relationship needs to… fill in the peaks and troughs, not accentuate them.ā€ What the fuck am I saying? ā€œNot that I can claim to know much about that.ā€
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"…That’s funny. People like you tend to do anything they can to be able to date themselves."
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ā€œI don’t actually think you know anything about me at all, let alone what makes someone like me. Hey, why the fuck are you Jeff? If this is a figment of my imagination, I certainly don’t perceive that guy who beat me up once as divine. And if it’s not, which is feasible since magic bullshit exists, you seem to be claiming you aren’t actually him.ā€
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"…Heā€˜s the only person who’s talked to you about god. There’s an association there, whether you like it or not." I don’t answer the rest because I don’t want to. "Do you think soulmates are real? That 2 people are made to be together?"
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ā€œI suppose. Dream logic. Whatever. You obviously aren’t going to give me anything useful. But I could buy this being trivial regardless. If only because I’d like to live in the world where Jeff Johnner has the least possible amount of relevance.ā€ I look out of the carriage, wistfully or whatever. ā€œI already answered about god, and soulmates are even more obviously fake. Unless you mean in some literal sense like fate existing because everything is predetermined, which is philosophy nonsense I don’t dwell on. The idea of a soulmate is practically as dumb as the idea of a souljob or soulhouse. People just want the best they can manage. There’s some song or poem, like… ā€˜You are my beloved, my one and only. And if I didn’t have you, I’d probably have someone else’. People just like to pretend what they have is magical. Which is fine, I guess?ā€
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"So you don’t think there’s someone out there made for you? That’s good, because Ariel May certainly isn’t your soulmate."
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ā€œYes, no one is. What are you fucking on, huh? This what you’re curious about, god? For someone who was such a sniveling little bitch about me being egotistical and thinking the actual god would be interested in me specifically, you sure are real into scrutinizing my love life.ā€
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"…" This is too hard to explain. Even I’m not quite sure what I’m doing. "It was funny."
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ā€œI’m laughing up a storm here. You mentioned the concept of people ā€˜who will do anything for you’. I don’t think that was just about being religious. I think you’re not so holy to be above having things you want, and whatever this is — this is one way to try to get it. What’s with the scenery? The almost completely silent facsimiles of women in my life? Did you do that, too?ā€
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"…In a sense. I’m not really great at purposeful metaphors but I think there was something to that. Maybe?"
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ā€œIt was alright. You did get one thing wrong, though.ā€
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"No. I didn’t."
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ā€œI guess not. Something like this can’t be ā€˜wrong’. But it’s only a memory. I’m not stuck here anymore.ā€
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He gets up and opens the door of the carriage. "I'll leave the rest of this dream to you then, I guess. Do whatever you want with it."
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I was wondering how much influence I still exert, really. I attempt to will myself past the bounds of gravity. Mostly out of curiosity. ā€œOne last thing. I don’t think it’s literally you. Just a hunch based on attitude. And I don’t have any reason to trust your answer, or think you’ll answer at all. But I’ll ask anyway. Is Ehn one of yours?ā€
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"Haven't you ever heard the phrase 'Man's Best Friend'?" He jumps out of the carriage and dies. Dana wills herself past the bounds of gravity.
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ā€œUgh. What an asshole.ā€ I mutter to myself.
9:50 PM
I leave the carriage. Neither of these two are real. None of this will be, but… I don’t need to resort to MAKING UP a scenario where I interact with Ariel May.
9:51 PM
Hmm.
9:52 PM
I don’t need to make a show of thinking, keeping my internal monologue secret. Or putting the effort into speaking out loud. I suppose in a world that is mine alone, my consciousness can simply be.
9:52 PM
I don’t dream often. Let alone lucidly. I wonder if that’s because of That Guy’s influence.
9:53 PM
I suppose I’m accepting it as something external to myself. I almost want to not do so out of spite, but if that was the right way of looking at it, I’d literally just be spiting myself.
9:54 PM
It is earnestly terrifying that I cannot be alone and untouchable in my own mind, but I’ll leave panicking about that for later and hope awake me decides this is bullshit.
9:56 PM
Then again… I dunno. This all started when I began losing it over being alone with my own thoughts in the store. Perhaps believing I’m not is some sickening way to cope. I want and loathe solitude, then. What a fucking boring contradiction. Get in line, pal. Everyone deals with that.
9:56 PM
Wouldn’t it be fucking funny if everything starting with Ehn appearing was my shitty coma dream theory, or whatever? What a riot.
9:58 PM
I glance back at the two identical horses, probably representative of how I don’t value the interiority of other people like Ariel and Grace beyond what purpose they fulfill for my benefit, or something. And then I ascend.
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Beyond the carriage, beyond the road. To the extent I can see the the top of the bounds enclosing the valley.
10:06 PM
But of course, there’s nothing beyond. I didn’t put anything there.
10:07 PM
Perhaps a different sort of mind may have been able to give themselves a vague intuition of continued landscape. But as a gamer, I know all too well the limits of fantasy.
10:09 PM
I go high enough that the entire area appears distant, and small. The unlimited road continues in both directions. But the rest is finite.
10:11 PM
Because the area is small now, I pick it up with one hand, breaking off the relevant segment of this string, that which contained the carriage. This makes sense. I hold it gently in the palm of my hand. I could destroy it so easily. It would be effortless. But it would be pointless. Not wrong or right. Trivial.
10:12 PM
I let go, allowing it to drift away in the wind. There’s wind now, also.
10:13 PM
A figure approaches. Something blindingly bright. God, maybe.
10:13 PM
Hello, Dana Craig.
10:13 PM
See, I can tell this one is just me. It feels different from earlier.
10:14 PM
I suppose I can never be sure. ā€œHi. Let’s not do the thing where I talk to myself, alright?ā€
10:14 PM
Then who should I be?
10:14 PM
ā€œI don’t know. Anyone else.ā€
10:15 PM
You expressed no interest in Grace or Ariel. Seemingly because they were readily available in your reality. So…
10:17 PM
No. No no no. ā€œNo.ā€ I claw away the image of Artemis Craig. ā€œNot going there. I’d rather just wake up than try to… ugh, I dunno. Too many opportunities for intrusive thoughts.ā€
10:17 PM
Fine. Her, then.
10:18 PM
I stare at Michelle, and nod. ā€œThat works. It’s… odd. I guess it makes sense for me to think of her right now.ā€
10:18 PM
Are you upset she died, or not?
10:19 PM
ā€œIt’s not that simple. I mean, she didn’t deserve it, as far as I’m aware. But I don’t think it’s bugging me for such a noble reason. Maybe it’s projection. Because it could’ve been me. A reminder of fragility.ā€
10:20 PM
But it couldn’t have been Dana. Now you know what happened.
10:21 PM
ā€œIt could never have literally been me, even when I thought she got involved with the mob or something.ā€
10:21 PM
ā€œI guess the projection still works. The person who killed her might be dead, but it also might be someone who has reason to want me dead.ā€
10:22 PM
You really don’t need to go to the effort of imagining people who want to kill you.
10:22 PM
ā€œYeah, Jeff showed up here already. Hah.ā€
10:23 PM
Is that all you think? That death is frightening?
10:23 PM
ā€œWhat do you mean? I mean, in the sense all people fundamentally have the survival instinct toā€”ā€œ
10:23 PM
I’m her. This isn’t just a conversation topic. What would you say to her, if you could?
10:24 PM
ā€œIt’s pointless to think about. I meanā€¦ā€
10:25 PM
Obviously you don’t really believe that. I’m still here. What if there was something after death? If we pretended there was some miracle? It could be worthwhile. Maybe this is real therapy.
10:26 PM
ā€œIt’s not even just that. It’s pointless because there’s nothing to say. I didn’t even KNOW her, reallyā€¦ā€
10:26 PM
Do you know anyone?
10:26 PM
ā€œTouché.ā€
10:26 PM
ā€œI guess… I mean, first I’d ask her what specifically happens after you die, and what actually happened to her.ā€
10:27 PM
You can’t ignore the spirit of the question you asked.
10:27 PM
ā€œWatch me, bitch. But fine, sure.ā€
10:29 PM
ā€œI would tell her… that this wasn’t some stroke of bad luck. I don’t think it’s a universal rule that there’s always a person who kills you because they’re crazy. But Michelle, you must have known. You were asking for an end like this.ā€
10:29 PM
What the fuck are you talking about? Wait, she didn’t swear, did she…
10:30 PM
ā€œYeah, it’s weird and fucked up to say, but it’s true! She lived her life naive and vulnerable. The nice ones finish last.ā€
10:33 PM
Do you think no one alive is nice?
10:34 PM
ā€œWhat the fuck does that mean? Anyway, no. But it involves some aegis of protection. Children can be innocent because they’ve got their parents to cover for them. Unless they’re orphans or poor. Then they gotta grow up real damn quick.ā€
10:36 PM
Are you infantilizing Ariel again?
10:36 PM
ā€œDon’t make this fucking weird. There’s always comparisons to be drawn between different kinds of human relationships. And anyway, she’s clearly gone through some heavy shit I haven’t.ā€
10:37 PM
Then why is she ā€˜nicer’ than you?
10:37 PM
ā€œBecause she isn’t, actually. Or she’s better than me. I don’t fucking know.ā€
10:38 PM
This is beside the point. Is that really it? If Michelle were around you’d… gloat to her about some philosophical victory won over her?
10:39 PM
ā€œI don’t fucking know. It’s a dumb question! I’m dumb for thinking about it. Death only means anything because it’s final. If I could talk to Michelle again, I wouldn’t have any reason to say anything.ā€
10:39 PM
So there’s only worthwhile conversation to be had with corpses.
10:40 PM
ā€œI would ask her if she was happy. Okay? If she thought it was all worth it for her. That’s not the same as being okay with dying. But, that lifestyle, did it really give her anything?ā€
10:40 PM
What lifestyle? You knew nothing but a shadow of her.
10:41 PM
ā€œOkay, well I’d sit down and have a long fucking conversation to make sure I understand her lifestyle. What do you want me to say?ā€
10:42 PM
I think you’d ask her if she was satisfied living without knowing you. And she wouldn’t know how to answer that. Because obviously that part of the answer was yes. You were just a cashier.
10:43 PM
ā€œYeah, whatever. I don’t think I would ask that, because it makes no sense.ā€
10:45 PM
The area lights up as a sky of stars. Each star a name and face, a person in the world. All their connections drawn constellations. And these relationships are just the ones I know of. What I could keep track of, what people I’ve met.
10:46 PM
ā€œThere’s so much to people. And all of it is based on so much trivial bullshit. I never thought of Michelle as viable for anything because she’s a basic bitch who was obviously straight.ā€
10:47 PM
You’re pretty hung up on a trivial qualification to relationships yourself. And… viable for ā€˜anything’? Such a one track mind…
10:48 PM
ā€œShut up. I’m right. It’s what drives humanity. Everything else is just ā€˜nice to have’.ā€
10:50 PM
It’s what drives you. Don’t give me some pansy ass appeal to nature. Obviously we both get the contradiction there. Oh, but I guess it could be biologically viable! Only you can get pregnant, though.
10:51 PM
ā€œShut up.ā€ I hiss. ā€œShe wouldn’t say that. Michelle would not fucking say that. This exercise has outlived its point.ā€
10:52 PM
Are you sure? You don’t know her. You never will.
One of the stars flickers and goes out. The threads connecting it to others slowly lose their form and tautness, dangling down. Whatever passes for ā€˜down’ here. They become like strings with the puppet cut off.
10:53 PM
ā€œI don’t need anyone! I can do anything, alright? If something can be achieved by me, I’ll put in the work to do it, and if it can’t, it’s not worth caring about!ā€
10:54 PM
That doesn’t make sense. The first sentence isn’t connected to the others. I think you’re just making excuses, Dana.
10:56 PM
ā€œGet out of my face, you farce. You ghost. DELUSION.ā€ I grab Michelle by the collar and push her against the wall. A vertical surface is present in accordance to my assumptions, the same way I somehow stand when not consciously flying.
10:56 PM
Oh, man. Is this what you’d say to her? Haha.
11:00 PM
ā€œHah.ā€ I also laugh. It’s a funny situation. Brawling a dead girl. I look up at one of the remaining stars, with a withered, severed thread. Presumably it was connected to Michelle. The others remain, but all are similarly faint or damaged. It does not seem like this gold-light-emitting neutron star is part of any major culturally recognized constellations.
11:00 PM
ā€œIsā€¦ā€
11:00 PM
Yeah. Exactly.
11:01 PM
I guffaw. Giggle, chuckle even. ā€œAmazing. Real clever stuff.ā€
11:02 PM
Dana, I think there is something wrong with you.
This one sounds more like Michelle, actually. I hurl her into the aforementioned celestial body.
11:03 PM
Her body approaches, then quickly becomes unrecognizable as any particular form. I’m not so fucked up as to imagine detailed viscera, thankfully. ā€œThis was stupid.ā€
11:04 PM
The weight of that dead girl was just enough. It was able to push things over the threshold. The gold star flickers too, and to a layman’s eye, it might seem like it was snuffed out, same as Michelle.
11:06 PM
But that’s not true. It’s still there. It just doesn’t look like the others. The threads all collapse inward to the space where it ā€œusedā€ to be. They snap off of their associated stars with a loud crack. But such separation is not to last long, as the closer ones also spiral inward to the same position.
11:08 PM
The trails of light begin to make this seemingly vanished presence visible again, via the trails of light all converging. It doesn’t stop. It won’t ever stop. Sometimes the threads pull one in, and other times they break, but either way, it’s just a matter of distance. All of them are eventually absorbed into the destructive mass. Even the brightest, the most beautiful of all, cannot escape the gravitational pull of a black hole.
11:09 PM
A memory, a canyon, the carriage and the two in it, scenery that didn’t even exist before, generated only to convey the scope of destruction.
11:09 PM
The joke is that Dana Craig is dense.
11:10 PM
I sit down, not bothering to look at this rampage. Is it self-mockery? Maybe. Maybe not. Black holes are kind of badass. The same way not looking at really flashy explosive destruction behind you is badass.
11:11 PM
I hold on pretty long, all things considered. Stuff very distant starts to be affected before I’m meaningfully shaken from my position. But you can’t really escape yourself. I’m absorbed into me, too. And then I wake up.
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((End session))
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((Saturday but it’ll be short))
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((ā€œDana wakes up in a room with the entire cast of Advehnt Guard. End sessionā€))
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Dana woke up in her room the next morning. She’s sure that that whole dream was just made up by her unconscious mind.
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There’s really no use dwelling on the part of the dream that definitely wasn’t some normal construction of my unconscious mind right now. I sigh, and check my phone for the time. Not like it matters. I’m basically on no schedule.
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It's morning.
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Cool, yeah, good.
5:58 PM
I leave my room to the other room in my house, where presumably Grace Rollins is.
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Grace is still asleep.
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Okay. I eat breakfast, meaning have a drink. I idly browse the internet.
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Grace yawns and slowly gets up. "...?"
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ā€œHey.ā€
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"Hey..."
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ā€œMorning.ā€
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"I assumed."
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I chuckle. ā€œFair enough. You sleep alright?ā€
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She pauses. "…Yeah."
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ā€œYeah, good. Okay.ā€
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"…Feels like it should’ve been better, though."
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ā€œThere’s never any real pattern to it, I’ve found.ā€
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"I just like finding patterns."
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ā€œMost people do.ā€ I stare at a wall.
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"Do they?"
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ā€œYeah. Pareidolia. Helps us survive.ā€
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"…I don’t know what that is."
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ā€œSeeing patterns in random stimulus, in background noise. Faces in electrical outlets or messages in a reversed song or a man in the moon. …Or constellations.ā€
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"How exactly does that help us survive?"
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ā€œI guess I misspoke, pareidolia is kind of like… when it doesn’t work. But people finding patterns is important. Being able to pick out a silhouette in the dark, noticing what mushrooms make people sick, the entire idea of science. It can be the difference between life and death. Better safe than sorry, I guess.ā€
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"…I guess that makes sense. What helps us is just also what hurts us."
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ā€œHeh. I’m sure I’m the first person to tell you that you’re kind of a downer.ā€
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"…Sorry. I’ll try to work up the party girl spirit."
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ā€œGood to have aspirations.ā€ What the fuck are we talking about right now?
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"So, uh… Your girlfriend. Is that going well?"
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ā€œI guess.ā€
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"What do you mean?"
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ā€œI mean, having one at all is much better than I ever really thought I’d get.ā€
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"Oh. So you don’t really love her?"
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ā€œWhat? No.ā€ I shake my head.
7:17 PM
ā€œI mean, what does that even mean? It’s the kind of thing that’s a waste to think about. Pareidolia. I’mā€¦ā€
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"…"
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ā€œIt’s nice having someone. To just talk to. Or anything.ā€
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"I get that."
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ā€œThese labels are awfully fuzzy. It’s just not clear what it means to be someone’s…. whatever. It’s about building up an intuition.ā€
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"You just… know?"
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ā€œSure. Ideally.ā€
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"…" She pauses. "Do you want me to leave?"
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ā€œNo. Not particularly. Why?ā€
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"…I was just- I don’t know…"
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ā€œWhat do you usually do, Grace? Like, on an average dayā€¦ā€
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"Drugs with Grobber. Therapy with Carolyn. Sometimes I visit you too. And then, most importantly… I talk to Michelle. I kind of… Burnt through that list. I don’t really have a life anymore."
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ā€œMm. I can understand the feeling. Though it’s not like I lost much. Or had much to lose. Just don’t have the same 9-to-5 anymore. It’s a lot of responsibility to suddenly have time you need to choose for yourself what to do with.ā€
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"…Do you think Carolyn could tell me what to do?"
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ā€œNo.ā€ I quickly think of something to say to justify this. ā€œShe’s concerned with the finite. I think this kind of listlessness is out of her wheelhouse. I mean, when I had that job, what I wanted more than anything was to not have to do it. And then that came true. And I don’t regret it! It’s just ā€˜what now’. Which, isn’t quite the same, butā€¦ā€ I sigh. ā€œI mean, losing Michelle is just an unabashed tragedy. But your ability to part with Carolyn is a success, and whatever your thing with Grobber is, if you wanted to leave him as someone he hated, I think I’d be pretty spiteful towards about everything in his shoes about now. There’s just always more. The day after the ending. That’s what Blythe doesn’t understand, and why I admire the professionalism of recognizing when her work is over.ā€
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"Always more… It’s kind of intimidating, no? I don’t want to waste my happiness by dying now, but… I dunno, it just feels like the end? Like… Good job me, I figured it all out. The end. Fade to black. …It almost feels wrong for things to continue."
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ā€œProbably the fault of media or something. Life’s about living. Not trying to reach some point where you’ve won it.ā€
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"…I guess. I dunno, it’s just… Weird. I won, so… What’s next? Even if this is how life is supposed to work, I just… It’s hard to live life without knowing the end."
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ā€œStatistically it’s heart disease.ā€
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"Huh?"
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ā€œI’m pretty sure, at least.ā€ I look it up. ā€œYeah. Cancer’s number two. Jesus, suicide’s in the top 10? That’s kind of fucked. Anyway, the takeaway is that every ending sucks. It shouldn’t be about the end.ā€
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"…That makes sense. Michelle, she just… She loved these cheesy kind of movies. Where you’re just kind of in it for the fun, right? But the main character, he always ends up in a good place. And then the movie ends, and you’re left in some vague sense that things will stay good for a long indefinite time even if you can’t see it yourself. It’s like… I wish I could just do that. Just step back and let it all just kind of… Feel right."
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((It will shock and appall you to hear that I am done for the day.))
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((Saturday))
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((exciting. so hype to have the session where i get two lines of dialogue before reaching a pause stepping on the plot tripwire you probably expected me to last time, the day before I do that to natyobb))
3:19 PM
((Actually having family on Saturday so I’ll probably be inconsistent in responses))
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((I made someone pass the plot tripwire ahead of time thankfully))
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"…That makes sense. Michelle, she just… She loved these cheesy kind of movies. Where you’re just kind of in it for the fun, right? But the main character, he always ends up in a good place. And then the movie ends, and you’re left in some vague sense that things will stay good for a long indefinite time even if you can’t see it yourself. It’s like… I wish I could just do that. Just step back and let it all just kind of… Feel right."
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ā€œWell, cashing in your chips, quitting while you’re ahead, that’s one thing.ā€
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"But... How?"
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ā€œIt depends on what it means. Harrison Ford pulled outta playing Han Solo since he knew it was only gonna get worse. Professional athletes retire in luxury when they’re past their prime. If you’re talking about life, then nothing really lasts forever. You can step back by killing yourself, sure, but that’s obviously just destroying it.ā€
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"Yeah… It’d be so simple if we just weren’t real."
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ā€œNot really. Sometimes that just ends with someone dying. Or it doesn’t end. I don’t want to be in a world of family guy.ā€
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"A story can’t just… Not end. As long as something’s wrong, the story goes on. And when it’s fixed… It ends. Family Guy’s going to have to end someday when they’re all good people or whatever."
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ā€œThere’s a lot of different things to consider in need of fixing, though. Also, I don’t think Family Guy has character development. Pretty sure it’s continuation is dependent upon financial success and ratings, not if the artistic vision of John Familyguy is completed.ā€
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"…I wouldn’t know. I don’t watch it."
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ā€œWell, neither do I.ā€
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"...Oh."
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"…I should probably leave, right?"
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ā€œUm. I don’t know. I don’t mind you being here, butā€¦ā€
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ā€œā€¦But?" She got up.
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ā€œI guess it’s like that. Earlier. Quit while you’re ahead. I mean, this is good, right? For our relationship. Some introspective discussion and a night together. If we go on longer, maybe it just ends in someone getting angry again.ā€ I take a deep breath. ā€œI mean, that’s my premise. She’s fun to have around for like 3 hours of trying to set the bar for standards as low as possible, but she is not a person to often choose to interact with. She seems to be like this around everyone, except maybe the few times you've seen her with Ariel.ā€ I chuckle, despite saying nothing funny. ā€œI get that voice too; telling me I’ve peaked, exhausted my potential. But it can go fuck off to hell. I’m always gonna want more. They’ll have to take that future from me kicking and screaming.ā€
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"…Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind." She walks to the door and opens it.
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I take another swig of what it is obviously way too early to imbibe. ā€œI’m gonna be… REAL pissed if I see you in the news, Grace. Cause it’s like… all the witnesses and people the person knew are like, oh they seemed all quiet and mild and nice, never thought they’d do something like this. But. If you spend a night with me and ya go, hey Dana, I no longer feel comfortable in the places associated with my own life right now, and I’m going with you because I have no one else, and geez Dana isn’t it the worst how you have to keep on going through the struggles of life day to day wouldn’t it be nice if things could just be perfect and stop and by the way I’m not seeing a therapist anymore, and then, then if you go and kill yourself I just look like a fucking dumbass, right? Just get a hobby, man. Do something less predictable. Orchestrate a prison break, I don’t care. Whatever.ā€ I cough.
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"…" She stops. "Dana…" She turns around and walks back towards her. "…Do you mind if I do something stupid?"
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ā€œI’ll probably be able to handle it.ā€
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Grace kisses Dana.
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I stare in shock. Then, realizing I don’t want to send a negative impression, I smile slightly. But also frown to indicate a lack of endorsement. I settle on an incredibly neutral expression, then sigh. ā€œYeah, good. Okay. I’ll see you around, Grace. I’m… really glad I met you.ā€ What? What does that even mean?
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"…I’m really glad I met you too." Her expression is unclear. "…Dana?" Ariel walks in, thus completing the most cliche recipe for romantic drama of all time. What a cheap way for this to go.
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Three truly is company. ā€œHi.ā€
8:20 PM
I’m cool as a cucumber. Probably.
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"…Hi." Grace. "Hi." Ariel.
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ā€œHow did… things go? I’m sorry I didn’t really get a chance to meet with you again yesterday.ā€
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"It went well enough, if you consider getting robbed by a man in a wheelchair to be well." Howard also walks in. Grace panics and backs up. "Just to... Avoid any confusion. I'm here too." Kingsley walks in. "That's it, that's the end of us. There's no 4th person. Well... Unless you count you 2 who were already here. In which case, there would be 5 of us total. But no 6th... Or 7th for that matter." "We get it, Kingsley." Howard.
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Wow. Five truly is company. ā€œIncredible. Hello, officer.ā€
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"Are you here for me?" Grace. "No, I didn't walk into Dana's apartment to arrest someone for beating me with a chair. Really, I didn't bother to think about if that was a possibility at all." Howard.
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ā€œThat was you?!ā€ Wow. That’s one hell of a mystery that wasn’t even really a mystery and nobody thought would get solved. But it was actually solved.
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"...Maybe. Allegedly." She whispers to Dana. "What's a good legal defense here?"
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ā€œOkay, but the wheelchair is a different thing? And that was with Ariel?ā€
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"It was Sean Niebel." Ariel. "Somehow." Howard. "But I doubt we should be talking about certain things with that girl around. She's on Carolyn's side." Grace looks away uncomfortably.
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ā€œSean Niebel is in a wheelchair?ā€
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"...Not anymore." Ariel.
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ā€œOkay. I guess that’s not really important.ā€
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"...I should go." Grace starts walking for the exit. "It was nice seeing you again!" Ariel. "You didn't... See that, did you?" Grace. "Of course I did. Why?" Ariel.
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ā€œAlso, why would you ask that? What context would that be aā€¦ā€ I sigh. ā€œOkay. Bye.ā€
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Grace hurries out of the room. "Are we past all that? Can we move on?" Howard sighed. "Back in my day, romantic drama was much more violent. Made it much more worthwhile to watch."
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ā€œThere’s no drama. I’m cool about it. I’m being cool about it. Anyway, what’s this about sides? Carolyn is insane, but I don’t see how she’s anything but a lone wolf connected to others by circumstance.ā€
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"She's working for the mob. …Like Gus did, before they cut him out." Howard.
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ā€œThat seems like an oversimplification. I don’t think any organization can afford to knowingly work ā€˜with’ her. But I suppose it’s the same in the end.ā€
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"No, they're working with her. Directly. She's just one of their pawns."
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ā€œAn unusual arrangement. But I’m not one to talk.ā€
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"Speaking of Gus, his funeral is this morning. In your shoes, I’d assume they’re about to go for another attempt at revenge today. Kingsley’s going to hang around you again just in case. He’ll keep his distance, you don’t have to worry about him listening." Howard. Kingsley nods. "That’s right. I have no interest in listening on your romantic conversations, because I’m apparently gay." Howard looks at him with confusion. "…'Apparently'?" "That’s what Detective James told me." Kingsley.
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ā€œWhy the hell do they think I killed him? I’m not the lady who murders people because she’s insane he died in front of.ā€ I roll my eyes.
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"No clue. Best guess would’ve been some kind of link between Johnner and Blythe, but I can’t find a thing. My hunch says maybe his boss is connected to her somehow, but I still haven’t identified him. Of course, there’s the coincidence of Marco Gould also allegedly killing himself, but the following leap of logic is simply absurd." Howard.
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ā€œIs Johnner like… his real name?ā€
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"That’s what it says in government documents. Odd name though, I know."
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ā€œOkay. But Johnner… he’s not who you’re looking for, right? It’s why this happened, why Gus actually died. The person he thinks I am, I guess.ā€
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"Carolyn definitely did it… But ultimately, she’s their pawn too. And they’ll fight like hell to keep her safe, for whatever reason. Johnner’s only 2nd in command. The top boss keeps his identity well-hidden, but as soon as we’ve got him the entire organization will crumble and run." Howard.
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ā€œBut he was on their ā€˜side’. It’s not like I can’t imagine things going awry such that they try to off one of their own men, but it’s odd to just imminently assume that to be the case. Same with there being someone above Johnner… I have doubts about his competence, and he talks like he’s working directly under god or something, but neither are exactly hard evidence.ā€
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"I’ve got no doubt. I’ve run into the guy enough times to know I smell a lapdog. He’s not doing anything of his own will. He’s a figurehead, and a pretty terrible one at that, but he’s certainly loyal. Whoever this god of his is, it’s a real guy." Howard. (edited)
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ā€œā€¦Intriguing.ā€ Can’t make any hasty conclusions.
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"We’ve got a high ranking member of the white suits in custody. The goal is to get her to rat on the rest and tell us where the hell Johnner's hiding. Chances are we’ll need you down the line for cleanup." Howard. (edited)
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ā€œHer, hm? I wonder… are these people, like, seriously color coordinated? Is that a thing with them?ā€
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"What do you mean?" Howard.
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ā€œI don’t know. I guess Johnner didn’t dress like that, but… The White Suits?ā€
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"They’re a side organization. It’s complicated. The point is that they all work for the same guy, and only know each other through Johnner."
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((Saturday))
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 2:03 PM
ā€œSo they don’t know each other, but they’ve coordinated their attire? Is that like… something he set up?ā€
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"No, I mean... The only link between them and the main gang is Johnner. The white suits are organized together." Howard.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 2:11 PM
ā€œOh, okay. That makes more sense.ā€ I remember the plot of Advehnt Guard. ā€œI guess I met one, incidentally. Long before seeing the guys I did yesterday. Unless it was just someone dressed the same. He said his name was Jay. No idea where he’s gotten to by now.ā€
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"You mean the one your girlfriend turned over to us, who then pretended to be you?" Howard smirks. "I let them out on a bit of a pet project... He vanished."
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 2:23 PM
I look at Ariel. ā€œYou never told me that.ā€
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"I was trying to do something." Ariel. "It didn't go well for her, you could say. Only information I gave her is what I've divulged to you separately. She isn't exactly the most useful person in the world." Howard. Ariel walks next to Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 2:34 PM
ā€œNo, I don’t… that was before the Rumen stuff, and so before I even… you were… already working with him?ā€
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"It was a small exchange of information. I was trying to help you. But... That's when I knew for sure. I couldn't do this without you." Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 2:48 PM
ā€œWeā€¦ā€ I frown, looking probably just a little bit lame. Should I believe her? No, even believing her… is that really okay? Definitely not. It’s a clear breach of my trust. It isn’t really that different from what I myself did yesterday. Negotiation with Carolyn that would be in everyone’s interest but nonetheless I couldn’t do in front of Grace because she’s crazy and stupid. But I’m not that irrational, am I? Does she really think that of me? Did she just never get the chance to tell me about this? It’s not like I haven’t tried hiding things from her… there’s that whole business of setting up multiple pseudonyms so I have one she doesn’t know is me, that never stopped being a thing that happened. But that’s self-defense, and she’s never putting herself in danger the way I do. Would I have been unwilling to take whatever deal she made myself? And was that something that would’ve been my mistake, or would I still not do it now? Ugh. Can’t show weakness in front of him. ā€œI don’t really understand, though. What was the information? And how did he just… ā€˜disappear’?ā€
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"I just told her who the white suits are. Just mobsters. I wasn't exactly holding that close to my chest, but that's all she got. As for how that guy vanished, you remember those bandages he had instead of a face? A different guy put on the same costume after buying it in Shelk, then set off the fire alarm in Carolyn's apartment complex. It was annoying, to say the least." Howard.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 3:13 PM
ā€œIt’s a costume?ā€
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"Not on him. Someone recreated it by hand, though." Howard.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 3:24 PM
ā€œWhy? Also how does that make him disappear? You mean, like, he was arrested?ā€
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"It means he confused us."
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 3:30 PM
ā€œOh. Did you lose track of the imposter as well?ā€
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"No. He just got wrapped up in some other nonsense. It’s a whole mess." Howard.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 3:36 PM
ā€œWell, I can’t imagine a more specific way to describe that.ā€ I shrug.
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"That should be all." Howard turns to leave. "I’ll see you later, Craig."
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 3:38 PM
ā€œWhy did you even come here? Couldn’t you have just had Kingsley tell me what he was doing himself?ā€
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"…I had to go somewhere. Wish me luck, this could be my last day." Howard chuckles and leaves.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 3:45 PM
ā€œWhat? What does he mean by that?ā€ I wonder aloud.
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"Well, everything should be clear now." Kingsley tries to seem authoritative.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 3:49 PM
ā€œThe rules of the day have been made very clear.ā€ I sigh.
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Kingsley nods. "Well, you’re certainly more fun than your boss." Ariel takes Kingsley's hand. "What is- What is happening?" Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:00 PM
ā€œA handshake? I guess? Jesus, maybe you are gay. Or the opposite.ā€
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"But I wasn’t offering a handshake…" Kingsley. "It’s alright." Ariel is still holding his hand. "Umm… I may not be a detective yet… But my amateur detective’s intuition is telling me I’ve been caught in an unfortunate situation." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:11 PM
ā€œIs that what this is?ā€ I cock an eyebrow.
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"Well, you had Grace too, right? He seems useful." Ariel says this like it answers everything.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:18 PM
ā€œI don’t ā€˜have’ anyone. And yeah, I’m sure he is. That’s the reason he’s here.ā€
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"Well, you have me at least." Ariel. "Do I… Do I have to be here for this?" Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:25 PM
ā€œI don’t know, do I?ā€ I ignore Kingsley. ā€œOur relationship was already confusing and unclear enough before we started describing it in verbs.ā€
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"What are you talking about?" Ariel. "I don’t really… Like watching people fight." Kingsley, whose hand is still being held by Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:29 PM
ā€œThis isn’t a fight! It’s just a normal conversation.ā€
4:31 PM
ā€œLook, I couldn’t exactly get into that when mister mutually assured destruction policeman showed up, but whatever you think is going on, I’m sorry? I haven’t done anything to Grace. With Grace. Whatever is going on with her is on her initiative and decisions.ā€
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"I haven’t… Done anything to your girlfriend either-" Kingsley. "Dana… You don’t have to lie to me." Ariel does not even sound mad.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:38 PM
Get mad at me, you pussy! ā€œNo! I don’t… what do you even think I’m lying about? It’s sus that she slept in my home, I guess, but that’s all she did! I sat through a lengthy emotionally draining experience for her and she wanted to not be in an empty home when she slept and, I don’t know, I wanted to be a good friend for a change??ā€
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"If I may…" Kingsley raises his hand. "From what I’ve heard about you, that does make it seem like a lie." He looks at Ariel. "Not that I… Endorse the rest of what is happening."
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:45 PM
ā€œWhat you’ve heard about me? What the fuck does that mean?ā€
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"From… Howard. And from Ariel. From what I’ve gathered, you seem like a very selfish woman. Someone motivated by sexual pursuits rather than some kind of ideological advantage. If I found your body, I’d assume it was a crime of passion… Not of belief. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing. Detective Scott and many other brave cops stop criminals because they seek something in return. According to him, all people do this. We just… Pretend not to when it makes us feel bad. Therefore, those who are unapologetic are more honest with themselves. Overall, I believe you to be a very inspirational person, but one who’d very easily throw me away if it became convenient. That’s my assessment of you, at least." Kingsley. "I didn’t say any of those things." Ariel. "It was implied." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 4:59 PM
I… they think I’m… the… ā€œHa… ahaha…. yes, an interesting take, on humanity, nature of people, mm, heh, yeah, haha, I’ve wondered that sort of thing myselfā€¦ā€ I’m calm. It must be chilling to them how unfazed I am from this fradulent outing as I totally dismantle him! ā€œSo, Kingsleyā€¦ā€ I get uncomfortably close to him. ā€œThat’s just Howard’s take, though… that it’s how all people act… you don’t seem to think the same way, at least not confidently… what gave it away? My uniquely ideologyless pattern of behavior? Oh, and sex in particular, apparently. What lead you to that? I’m incredibly curious. Was it the fact that I ended up with a girlfriend? Perhaps the concept is a downright degenerate level of intimacy to youā€¦ā€
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"I… I don’t- I don’t personally have my take. Detective Scott and Detective James both provide intriguing and detailed perspectives on human nature. I’m not… Smart enough to know what to commit to- Quite yet. If you’d like to debate their philosophies with your own, I would be interested in hearing it." It’s clear from his expression that this is the most uncomfortable moment of Kingsley’s entire life.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 5:22 PM
ā€œGod damn. What a statement. Sure don’t think this guy’d be killed ā€˜of belief’.ā€ I look at Ariel smirking, with a ā€˜get a load of this guy’ point. ā€œWhat does that even mean, anyway? What’s the ideological murders I’m missing out on? Jesus. I mean, the only person I know for sure wants to kill me is Johnner, who is mad at me for something I didn’t even do, hey look at that haha! Would that be a crime of passion? I guess that’d make you correct! If not, I think you’re overestimating a looooot of things about me. I’m a lot like you, Kingsley, y’see? I’m always getting pushed around as a bit player. I just carry myself with a little more self-respect in it. Maybe that’s better. Maybe worse, maybeā€¦ā€ I crack my knuckles behind my head. ā€œWhat about you? If nothing else, you must know yourself, know what sort of guy you are to base your decisions on… riiiight?ā€ I have an expression of earnest curiosity.
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"Umm… I don’t-" Kingsley. "If you’re a lot like him, I guess that must mean I have a type: You, Dana." Ariel smiles.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 5:29 PM
ā€œKhg… ghkkrkā€¦ā€ I hold my forehead. ā€œReally do have… quite some luck. Or maybe you could claim it’s my taste, some subconscious manifest… mmā€¦ā€ I’m just saying shit. What am I supposed to say? What’s even actually happening? ā€œI mean, you know, a choice of my degrees of separation from a serial killer and a police officer, hahaā€¦ā€ I lower my arms to my side. ā€œOkay… I get it now, I think.ā€
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"Umm… To answer your question, I don’t particularly know who I am. That’s what I’m trying to find out. I want… To be a hero. A good person. And though I might be uneducated and naive, I want to find the right way to live. I just… I haven’t exactly found it yet. So I understand that I may have offended you… I’m sorry. I may be a police officer, someone meant to help people… but I’m still a fool. Glass houses… And all that. As Detective Scott would say." Kingsley clears his throat and looks around. "But… You’ve moved on. Right. The mystery you solved… That you get. What is it?"
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 5:45 PM
ā€œI mean, I said it already. But neither of you were there last night. And I’m not sure if I really understood… I might just have been being edgy. But this… it’s obvious. I’m going to get called this and that kind of person even based on completely illusory reasons. So why do I bother with the pretenses, right?ā€ I look at both of them as if either can answer or even really get what the question is. ā€œYou know, when Iā€¦ā€ I gaze warily at Kingsley. Not quite eager to talk openly about magic being real yet. ā€œā€¦when things changed so I didn’t have to work at that dead end store anymore, I was elated. I thought I was free. But I’m not. Maybe no one ever is. There’s always something. I’ve just graduated to a bigger cage. And I’ve driven myself crazy in denial of that, but… it’s still an improvement, right? I think that’s worth celebration. And there’s always more time to further break out. No problem with exploring the territory I do have access toā€¦ā€ I chuckle. ā€œGetting lost inside my own metaphor, sorry.ā€
5:45 PM
I stop my pacing around, and hold up both my hands in front of my face. ā€œSo fine. You got me. I’m bad news. I’m never going to have some higher ideal I submit to. I’ll try to keep people close, but always think of saving my own skin. I’ll do what I can to get the things I want, and lately, I’ve thought it might even never be enough for me. That’s all true. That’s the kind of wretched dirt-crawling creature I am. Congratulations.ā€
5:46 PM
ā€œSo I want some honesty in exchange.ā€
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 5:56 PM
I extend my hand towards the two of them, palm open, like that one Eminem render. ā€œWhat is this? Like, what are you actually doing, Ariel? What’s the endgame of this interaction?ā€
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"A balanced polyamorous relationship." Ariel. "So that even if Howard turns on us for whatever reason... His employee wouldn't arrest his own girlfriend." "Is that... Is that true?" Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 6:04 PM
ā€œWhich fucking part are you aski—okay, whatever, I’m not even gonna touch the strategic angle of this.ā€ I sigh. ā€œBut what does that mean, okay? Like, is he to you what I am to you? Where you’re a vaguely emotionally supportive presence and ask him to do things for you?ā€ Okay, maybe tone down the cynicism a little. I don’t actually want to break up right now. ā€œJust… I don’t know. Do you plan to… with himā€¦ā€ I interlock my fingers, trying and failing to think of what to say. ā€œHell, are you even into girls? I’ve seen more of your checkered relationship history than I ever thought I would, and I’m the only one I know of. I mean, am I paranoid, or is this you getting tired of not having a real relationship, but still not wanting to break this up? I get the whole… the polywhatever stuff, this is a new progressive concept, butā€¦ā€ I falter for words significantly longer.
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"I am into girls." Ariel confirms. "But you 2 are the same in how I see you too, I guess." "Umm... But... How exactly do you see me? What does- What is love? I'm not... I'm really sure what you're trying to make me do right now. I have no idea... If I could ever understand it." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 6:21 PM
ā€œYeah, no one gets it, we all just pretend, be quiet for a minute.ā€ I stop him from interrupting so much. It’s really rude. ā€œBut I would… I mean, would I be dating him, then? Maybe? I don’t understand if this is supposed to be comm…commutative. Or, otherwiseā€¦ā€
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"Sorry!" Kingsley shuts up. "Do you want to?" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 6:38 PM
ā€œWhat! Why would you think… N… um. I mean, yeah, obviously he’s definitely a cut above, probably just the most attractive male I’ve ever known, I can’t think of anyone else. But I don’t… I guess I’m just confused.ā€ I shrug, with a jarring level of vulnerability compared to the woman giving a villain monologue just minutes ago. ā€œI just came to terms with being a… a lesbian, first time saying the word about myself, just on Saturday. It’s imposing to have to come to terms with whether or not that’s true again.ā€ I sigh. I’ve calmed down. We’re in the negotiation phase. ā€œBut I dislike the alternative even more. Where we’re both with you, but just… strangers to one another. You say balanced, but it feels like there’s a central instability in sentiments there, just on a blatant pure numbers level, which will only ever make things worse for both of us. And, uh, him too, yeah.ā€ It’s kind of easy to forget he’s here. ā€œMaybe… we can meet somewhere in the middle, then?ā€ What? What the fuck am I saying? ā€œAnd I’ll see if I can work through it over time, one way or another. I can make that commitment for you, Ariel. We’ll just be… close friends, with unspecified vague benefits, to start. Me and him.ā€ ???? ā€œAlright?ā€ This is going to be a disaster. ā€œI think this could be good, yeahā€¦ā€ It would at least clear a few things up, if a miracle happened.
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"And what about Grace?" Ariel. Kingsley looks like he wants to say something, but remains quiet to avoid being rude.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 6:46 PM
ā€œI don’t… understand her. I can try to broach the subject in the future. I’m not sure. She seems very open to anything and very particular and intolerant all at the same time… I’ll… talk to her.ā€
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"So... You really weren't with her?" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 6:56 PM
I blink twice in rapid succession. ā€œNo. Not in any way beyond what you already saw for yourself. She’s clearly interested, it’s just… an unusual situation. Two days ago I was pretty sure she never wanted to speak to me again.ā€
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"Oh." Ariel. "Am I... Allowed to speak again?" Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 7:02 PM
ā€œWhat? Uh, yeah. Sorry.ā€
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"Umm... I don't mean to be rude, and I don't exactly want to break your carefully laid plans, but... I don't really... Know either of you that well? I'd feel quite wrong intruding on whatever... This is. Not to... Imply that my opinion should override yours. I'm not a particularly wise person, and in a democratic system you'd obviously outvote me... I'm simply, uh... It's- Is this how it's usually supposed to go?" Kingsley. "Yes." Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 7:15 PM
ā€œKingsley, nothing ever goes the way it’s supposed to. I get your job is to be the law, but the world is a mess, and everyone has their own weird ideas of how things should go. Now, you’ve got your say here. We literally can’t force you to do anything you don’t want to, especially since presumably you have a gun and we don’t.ā€ He doesn’t need to know about the asterisks to that part. ā€œBut if you want my take — and this is after separating from my own personal thoughts on the situation — you’ve got a situation where you are literally being offered affection from the opposite sex for nothing, without doing anything or even having to reach out. If I was in your shoes and didn’t at least try to see for a bit where taking that leads, I’d spend the rest of my life regretting it.ā€ Take the bait, chump. Actually, I wonder if it makes things better or worse for me if he’s gay. Hm. (edited)
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Kingsley looked at Dana with a serious glare. "So you think… I should do this? I’ll trust you then. …I suppose."
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 7:24 PM
A terrible mistake. ā€œCool.ā€
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"Oh, but… What if I am gay? I hadn’t really thought about it until someone told me I was. You’ve clearly placed a lot of faith in me… I wouldn’t like to let you down at my own fault.ā€ Kingsley. "I go by he/him sometime, so you’ll be fine." Ariel. "Oh, uh- Okay. What does… What does that mean?" Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 7:30 PM
ā€œNothing, probably. Don’t worry about it.ā€
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"Understood." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 8:06 PM
I smile. Innocuously. …Just as planned. You played your hand too much at the end, Ariel. The shock and hesitation of truly internalizing you weren’t being cheated on… it makes it clear this was all about that. A stock jealousy plotline. I called your bluff, and we’re stuck with him, this dude you clearly don’t give a shit about, for however long. And you’ve tacitly given me permission to just do that original thing openly! I almost feel bad… but, well, I’ll do my best to not make anyone miserable. ā€œDo remember to help me not die today, though. Regardless of all that, haha.ā€ I lightheartedly nudge him friendly-ways.
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"…Right." Kingsley stands there awkwardly for a moment before speaking. "If I was told one of you was 'occasionally' a man, I’d definitely assume it was you, Dana."
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 8:17 PM
Hah. Because he means metaphorically, likely due to my domineering attitude or lack of many stereotypically feminine signifiers, yet unbeknownst to him I have literally occasionally spent time in the body of a man throughout the past week. Talk about a humorous coincidence. ā€œYeah, well, maybe everyone is. I don’t know.ā€
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"I’m definitely more than occasionally a man." Kingsley. (edited)
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 8:18 PM
ā€œGood for you.ā€
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"…Thank you?" Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 8:22 PM
ā€œYeah.ā€ I look around at nothing in particular. ā€œUh, do either of you have anything you need to do today?ā€
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"…I’m supposed to watch you." Kingsley. "I’d like to find the paintbrush again, but I wouldn’t know where. So I guess not." Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 8:24 PM
ā€œYou lost it? Hm. When was that?ā€
8:25 PM
((Uh.))
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"Sean Niebel stole it. That’s what she trying to tell you earlier." Kingsley. "Thank you." Ariel says this to Kingsley. "I was just reiterating." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 8:28 PM
ā€œI see. Maybe something like that was his goal when we met and he kept badgering me.ā€
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"Ehn was directing him, too." Ariel. "N? The letter? Detective Scott said he was alone." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 8:52 PM
ā€œHe knows about that? Or is this just someone like Ariel or whoever telling him. Kind of at a loss for info there. Regardless, both that and Niebel are perpetually elusive.ā€
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"That didn't really clear up anything..." Kingsley. "We could go on another subway date, the 4 of us." Ariel. "Why do you keep insisting Dana and the other one are together...? I thought that theory was disconfirmed." Kingsley. "Well, isn't it romantic to imagine people being together? Most shows are only as good as their will-they-won't-they." Ariel says this casually.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 9:15 PM
ā€œI don’t know. I guess Subway is close enough… I just… I mean, I’ve been kidnapped, held at gunpoint, in a hostage situation, all more times in the past week than… well, the amount of times before that was zero, but you get the idea.ā€ I neglect to address being the perpetrator of one of those hostage situations. ā€œSo when someone shows up and says, hey, today specifically someone might try to kill you, I’m pretty deterred from going out. We can go get food, there’s very little here, but beyond that, I just want to head back as soon as possible and wait this out.ā€
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"That makes sense." Ariel. "I think it would be best if... For security reason... I kept my distance during your date." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 9:24 PM
ā€œYeah, sure, securityā€¦ā€ I feel a little out of it. ā€œHave either of you seen the film Clerks?ā€
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"No." Ariel. "No." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/1/2023 9:29 PM
ā€œCool. That’s something to do later.ā€ ((I am going to end the session here.))
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((Fair enough. Bye scipe))
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((Saturday))
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They continue to stand there.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 4:52 PM
ā€œSoā€¦ā€
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"So?" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 5:08 PM
ā€œI guess… we should go get food.ā€ I guess.
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"What happened to calling Grace?" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 5:10 PM
ā€œOh. Now?ā€ I have an expression on my face of some kind.
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"Why not?" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 5:14 PM
ā€œI don’t know, it’s just… I mean, I just saw her like an hour ago, so it would raise the question of why I didn’t say it then, and it seems also like it might be better to ultimately broach this in personā€¦ā€
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"Why would that question be a problem?" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 5:23 PM
ā€œBecause…?ā€ How do I even explain that? ā€œI don’t know, I guess it makes sense how I could’ve been too caught up in the moment thereā€¦ā€
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"But... Didn't this only start after that?" Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 5:34 PM
"Sure, but that seems a little like absurd timing, doesn't it? It's not like some grand act of deception to not lead with it."
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"If you say so." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 7:01 PM
ā€œI do.ā€ Yeah.
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Neither of them say anything.
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Both of them continue to remain silent, waiting for someone else to say something.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 8:47 PM
ā€œā€¦Do either of you even like Subway?ā€
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"It’s alright." Ariel. "Yeah." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 8:58 PM
ā€œFine.ā€ I open the door to the rest of the world.
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"But if Johnathan isn’t staying with us either, won’t it just be like last time?" Ariel. "Being called by my first name feels… Wrong." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 9:02 PM
ā€œWe can go somewhere else, I guess.ā€
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"But wouldn’t it be easier if you just called Grace?" Ariel. "…Can you please just call her so I don’t have to keep sitting through this argument." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 9:07 PM
ā€œWouldn’t what be easier? I don’t understand.ā€
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"Well, we’d have more people at the date." Ariel.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 9:19 PM
ā€œI don’t… uggh.ā€ I take out my phone, staring at Grace in my contacts. It may be true that putting this off won’t make it any better… Around how much time has passed since I last saw her?
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1 or 2 hours.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 9:26 PM
I… text her. That’s easier, as a start.
hey um are you available at some point today? just feels kind of unusual to leave things the way we did haha
God, what am I doing? Nonetheless, I send. If there’s not an immediate reply or indicator she’s read it, I put my phone away.
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'Sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight' She responds.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 9:30 PM
yeah i know it was super fuckin gay. im not upset or anything
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'Oh' and then, separately 'What?'.
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 9:42 PM
i certainly was a little too receptive to claim otherwise
9:42 PM
God, I feel so sleazy and gross typing all of this bullshit out. The ends justify it, surely.
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'Where do you want to meet?'
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Dana Craig 7/8/2023 9:57 PM
My heart pounds. It’s not from love or anything of the sort, though. Nothing so cliche. It’s the sensation of impending death. Was it Grace who made that comparison? Of love to suffering… It reminds me of a puzzle book I once had. The famous one, with a farmer trying to cross a river with a wolf and a sheep. The interaction and rules of what states of the three are acceptable and what lead to a failure condition.
10:00 PM
If I am alone, I will die. That isn’t necessarily true, of course, but it’s been made exceedingly clear that I should not act without caution today. I seriously doubt Kingsley even has what it takes to protect me, but at the very least, the appearance of a cop being present is probably the most effective deterrent I have against getting targeted. But would that startle Grace? It’s like they said; she’s on the other ā€˜side’. I guess I pretty obviously need to put staying alive first, but still…
10:05 PM
And if I’m with Kingsley, where does Ariel go? Does she just stay by herself? It feels like she wouldn’t be okay with that.
10:06 PM
If Ariel’s there, though, that’s just obviously a recipe for disaster. I mean, I need to ease her into it if I don’t want…
10:07 PM
Hm. No, maybe I do want a clusterfuck, right? If she’s caught off guard, that puts me at an advantage.
10:09 PM
subway
I pause.
also btw uh. the cop from this morning will be there just hanging back out of earshot probably. it’s like a witness protection thing since the mob wants to fucking kill me today
10:10 PM
((End session))
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((It’s peak))
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((Saturday))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Online / twitter / immxrtxlity007
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i dunno wht jessie was on if i was in breaking bad i would fucking do any thing to keep janelike forget the moment walt became heisenberg thats the moment i became death destroyer of worlds
8:28 AM
((when could this possibly have been sent? i don’t know)) (edited)
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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does [TIME] work
I mention a reasonable yet arbitrary point in time.
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'Yeah'
2:12 PM
I stare at my phone. Why am I even doing this? I guess it’s worth a try. She really can’t be trusted alone, in more ways than one.
2:16 PM
I inform my companions of the arranged time and place. Why the fuck did I say Subway? I guess it’s too late to change now. Should’ve gone to like. Out back steak house. Least there’s some decent food there.
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They understand the information.
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This whole multiple partners thing… absurd though it may be…
2:31 PM
If I accept it at least for myself, what does that spell? I’ve wondered if my awkward past might be salvageable…
2:31 PM
It requires quite a bit of luck and happenstance, though. And anyway…
2:32 PM
I don’t think it’s what I want. There’s always been people around who like me. I want someone to love me.
2:33 PM
It’s just widening a net, at worst. I doubled down on Ariel way too quickly and irrationally and have been struggling with that ever since. Well, I mean, kind of. It wasn’t a MISTAKE, persay.
2:33 PM
When I know, I’ll know. And then I can focus my attention on what I’ve discerned I care about.
2:36 PM
Such an odd arrangement, though. A transgender woman, a cop, and a murderer fangirl with daddy issues. Sure know how to pick ā€˜em, Dana.
2:37 PM
I don’t know if I did, really. It kind of feels like all of those just happened to me.
2:38 PM
Ariel’s the closest to being my choice. Maybe that makes her special. Or maybe the worst of all.
2:39 PM
Well, there’s no need for melodrama. We’re in our 20s. This is what’s supposed to happen, right? Could’ve stood to get on it sooner in my teen years, but this is what being a young adult is for. You do stupid shit, get your heart broken, no harm no foul. It’s a good time for all.
2:42 PM
Honestly… if the circumstances weren’t starting out awkward… it does feel oddly plausible for this to happen unrelated to me. Ariel’s a little… I don’t know. The sickeningly sappy yet also charming optimism reminds me of Michelle. I think her and Grace could’ve hit it off. …Of course, I can’t have that, haha. Just leaves me and boy wonder alone in the corner to argue about the mafia or whatever.
2:46 PM
God, I haven’t even thought about how weird he is here from his perspective. I would guess he’s trying to get information from us or something, but he didn’t initiate this at all. And he just gave in like it wasn’t even his choice to make. Is that itself the appeal? Like, he’s… Is this a fetish thing for him? I decide to move on from this train of thought. I need to stay wary. Even with Kingsley around, I don’t exactly feel real fuckin’ safe. Practically setting me up for failure given his performance history.
2:48 PM
I’ll be passively on the lookout, at least. My life comes before romance.
2:52 PM
Having set exactly enough time for the amount of internal monologue she would have followed by however long it takes to get to Subway, Dana Craig (me) figures it’s probably best to go now. I’ll just put off the uncomfortable situation of putting myself out there forever if I never force myself. ā€œI figure it’s probably best to go now.ā€ (edited)
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"Alright." Ariel. Kingsley nods dramatically.
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Glad to see he’s taking this seriously. I begin the trek to the ā€œsubwayā€. ā€œI just don’t get it. Half their marketing focuses on being healthy — which is obviously nonsense, and dependent on what you get, and irreversibly associated with pedophilia. And the other big appeal is this idea that you make the sandwich, which you obviously don’t.ā€ I complain about this choice I made myself.
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Ariel follows. "You don’t?" Kingsley follows from a distance.
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ā€œNo. I mean, you have more options than a non-subway sandwich establishment, maybe, but you’re still choosing from what the place has deemed an option. Subway could easily print a menu with every permutation, and suddenly, I’m doing exactly as much ā€˜making’ as at any restaurant.ā€
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"Well, maybe it’s like watching the sandwich grow like a child. You and the employee are the parents." Ariel.
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ā€œWhat?!ā€ What the fuck?
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"It’s a metaphor." Ariel.
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ā€œJust a… a really unusual one, dude. It’s… you’re eating the kid. Formed from a soulless financial transaction. I guess I’m being a little too literal-minded.ā€ What would prompt anyone to decide to say that? ā€œIt’s certainly comparable in that… two parties, one of whom provides simply critical information about the makeup of the end result, and the physical production being relegated to one end. Um… in a biological sense.ā€ Was that offensive? I didn’t even think about that. What the fuck is this conversation? ā€œI don’t think Subway is a good caretaker, though.ā€
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"Why not?"
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ā€œI mean, I guess it depends on when fucking—sandwich life begins. Is just the bread already a sandwich? And then the ingredient process is, metaphorical for raising it? It just seems callous to send it off when it’s finally found itself and become complete. I guess it’s trivially gonna fall apart as a comparison at some point. People aren’t food, generally.ā€ I sigh. ā€œSometimes that’s how it is, though. You can expect the bare minimum, but then you’re on your own. Anything else just causes problems.ā€
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Ariel doesn’t seem to really understand any of that.
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ā€œIn this consumerist society, perhaps we are all the sandwich.ā€ I say a fake deep quote as a joke.
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"Oh, okay." Ariel. They arrive at subway.
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I don’t think she understood the joke. It was bad on purpose.
4:25 PM
I enter the ā€œsubway buildingā€, checking the time on my phone.
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It’s the right time, but Grace isn’t here yet.
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ā€œWould be funny if I got stood up. Or if she saw us and bailed. Maybe you should stay somewhere else to start…? No, it’s probably fine.ā€
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Grace walks in awkwardly. "…Hi." She notices Ariel. "She’s here too?" "Hi!" Ariel.
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ā€œYeah, that’s kind of her thing.ā€ I shake my head, regretting the incomprehensible quip immediately. ā€œSorry. Let’s, uh, grab a table.ā€
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"Don’t we have to order first?" Ariel.
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ā€œWhat? I don’t know, who cares. I guess. Yeah, you’re right.ā€ Dana Craig commissions a BLT on rye and a soda from the establishment.
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Grace and Ariel both order sandwiches as well. Grace looks uncomfortable throughout the whole process but says nothing.
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With gusto, I select and sit at a table. I check if Kingsley is still in the vicinity, even if he’s going forward with his plan as stated.
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He’s not visible.
4:54 PM
The girls sit with Dana.
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Uh… I definitely saw him before, at least. He was following from a distance, but… ugh. I just have to hope he’s still around. God, this was so dumb. Why did I give in to her pestering? This is a terrible situation. Whatever. None of that matters right now. It’s a separate axis of my life. Either I’m fucked or not. Nothing to do but wait. I enter THE ZONE, prepared for?? This conversation?????? I’m still probably visibly nervous, but oh well. ā€œI’m sorry for doing this so abruptly. I know it’s an awkward interaction, and a terrible restaurant.ā€
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"…Right." Grace. "I like it, personally." Ariel.
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ā€œYouā€¦ā€ I turn to Ariel for clarification for a second. ā€œNever mind. …It’s fine. It’s close by.ā€
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"Yeah." Ariel. "..." Grace.
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ā€œGrace.ā€ Grace… I look at Grace. ā€œI… have known you for some time. And same the other way. Obviously. And… Regardless of the path taken, well, we’re still on decent terms at this point, aren’t we? I figure it’s been a functional, if eccentric, friendship.ā€
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"…Sure." Grace.
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ā€œIā€¦ā€ I sigh. ā€œAm subject to a frequent feeling of listless loneliness. Like I am in need of something that just isn’t there. You aren’t entirely dissimilar. You’ve basically told me as much, that you’re running out of functional connections. It’s not worth denying, I’d think.ā€ I pause to properly word the next part, continuing my obviously optimal thus far conversation.
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"…Right." Grace.
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ā€œWe had an especially earnest, emotional conversation yesterday. A bizarrely intimate conclusion to an otherwise shitshow of a day. The intimacy increased. You have made explicit advances—the kind which a description of ā€˜suggestive’ would be taken as a deliberately comedic understatement—towards me that I have not rejected. We have compatible dispositions. We are both sexually attracted to women. Under such a circumstance, I think at least attempting a relationship is something that only makes sense.ā€ I nervously chuckle, having reached the part of the conversation where I have to lie, or at least have no fucking idea what I’m talking about. ā€œThere is, however, obviously, a, uh, bit of a hitch to this not captured by what I’ve said thus far.ā€
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"…Right. Yeah." Grace looks at the floor.
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ā€œThat nightā€¦ā€ I guess it’s a little weird to say that when you mean last night. ā€œYou asked me… what love is. Or what it feels like. And I thought that was really strange. I mean, wouldn’t you know? More than me, really. I gave my best answer, but it was kind of just a meaningless ramble. Because I just don’t… I doubt anyone knows. It’s probably just striving to constantly get closer to that state. Bumping into whatever walls, making whatever confusing turns or stupid mistakes it takes along the way. In a world that’s so disorienting and oppressive, the least we can do for ourselves is not commit to any restrictions or rules past whatever just feels right. Soā€¦ā€
5:51 PM
I force a smile. ā€œDo you mind if we do something stupid, Grace?ā€
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"…What?" Grace looks at Ariel and then back to Dana.
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I take a deep breath. ā€œHonestly, I thought the same thing. It feels off. Especially for me. I’ve ranted like twice in the past day about how I’m evil and selfish or whatever, and this kind of overly idealistic kumbaya-ass approach is way off-brand. I should be the type of person to dishonestly cheat on my partner, right? Well, I’m tired of being told by anyone what I should be. I don’t even think I’m deemed someone who ā€˜should’ have a relationship at all.ā€ Am I being weird? I hope my point is still clear. (edited)
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"What are you trying to say?" Grace. "Polyamory!" Ariel.
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ā€œIs that the word?ā€ I raise an eyebrow. It’s also weird to say it so loudly. I’ve heard it before, but I wasn’t sure, and I think it helps my case if I act ignorant. ā€œWhen I was where I was, where I… I ā€˜should’ be, an inexplicable miracle changed my life completely. That was the day I met Ariel May.ā€ I state these sentences which are both true. ā€œI don’t understand her. She’s reserved and outgoing, feminine and masculine, intimate and distant. She has ideas and levels of open-mindedness that are completely foreign to me. Honestly, she kind of scares me.ā€ Pull back. Pull it the fuck back, dude. ā€œBut I think that’s a part of what love is. Perhaps. This was her suggestion. It seems like something impossible, too good to be true. But I’ll never know if I take that as a fact.ā€ I really turn up the flustered blushy emotional act. This seriously might be my best plan yet, in terms of execution. ā€œI trust… the worldview and judgement of my girlfriend. After all, I think I need to give credence to a perspective that saw value in me. And I trust your feelings. That’s my end of things. I just wanted to tell you the option existed. …Thanks for hearing me out, at any rate.ā€ Feel like it kind of lost its steam at the end. Whatever. (edited)
6:09 PM
((Okay I’m adding fucking paragraph breaks to this message god damn))
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"Um... What? Is this a joke?" Grace looks around suspiciously. "Am I being pranked?"
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This is not a reaction I was hoping for. ā€œNo, not really. I’m sick of the bit where I treat things like this as a joke. I definitely have better material.ā€ I shrug my shoulders. ā€œIf it’s a no, it’s a no. Couldn’t blame ya.ā€ It begins to dawn on me that I have not prepared at all beyond the prospect of initially explaining myself.
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"..." Grace doesn't say anything. "Dana, this is where you have to do something romantic." Ariel whispers to her.
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ā€œWhat? No, I just said everything. That was my whole deal, about feelings? What else do you expect me to do? I mean, you certainly didn’t… the only time I reached out in any way comparable to this, I was able to… hrg.ā€ I avoid eye contact with anyone else. ā€œMaybe my approach was… a little too stuffy. I shouldn’t have… I don’t know. I don’t know if there was a good way to tryā€¦ā€ So you shouldn’t have bothered, obviously. This is so stupid. I’m here screwing around on a lost cause when there’s so much I should be concerned about.
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"I'm not sure... I'd know how to handle being #2." Grace finally answers.
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God, this would be so much easier if I was talking to her alone. ā€œā€¦I see. I won’t pretend I don’t understand the concern. You may not trust it, but I’ll state my case that I don’t think that’s true at all. I’ve known you a lot longer and spoken with you a lot more.ā€ I feel the ever present eyes of the other person here. God, this is an impossible balancing act. ā€œIt’s… I just mean it’s less possible to reduce to a numerical ranking, and more like some sort of deranged emotional rock-paper-scissors. You two are qualitatively different in the sort of value you provide to my life, and I don’t think there’d ever be a situation where one gets in the way of the other. I also… I mean… I don’t think this needs to be centered around my existence. Like a harem or something stupid.ā€ Well, wait, I do want that? Don’t I? I like when things are about me. At any rate, I guess that’s, just, not something I should say, so I’ll make up something else to say. ā€œI know this is all sudden and a lot. But I think you’d like Ariel.ā€ I’m going to freak the fuck out. This is so awful and I am destroying my entire life and everyone will think I am a FOOL and rightfully so.
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"I'm sorry, what?" Grace. "I think I'd like you too!" Ariel strikes a cutesy pose.
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Fuck. She’s so much better at this. ā€œWhat part is confusing. Or is it all of it? I could understand all of it.ā€
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"Am I supposed to date you... Or her? Which one is the one who loves me?" Grace. "Both, maybe. I think that's what Dana's suggesting." Ariel. "That sounds... Overwhelming." Grace.
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ā€œI guess? It’s up to you. Well, and her. Can’t really assign hard and fast rules to this. For me personally, I’m slightly uncomfortable with asymmetry and fine with that sense of being ā€˜overwhelmed’, so that’s the mindset I default to.ā€ I rest my head on my hand and look at her slyly. Time to shift more towards the offense. ā€œI feel like some part of you had to understand a little. You may have called it something stupid, making the moves on me, but I often find that those sort of instinctive thoughts are the most important to take into consideration.ā€
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"To be honest... I agreed to this because I thought you were going to yell at me about how bad of a person I am." Grace. "Don't worry, you didn't do anything wrong." Ariel hugs her. Grace's expression looks like she's going to melt into a puddle.
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ā€œHey, slow your roll.ā€ I speak sternly yet not aggressively towards Ariel, the way one might reprimand a dog. ā€œI mean… uh. Wait, hang on, what? Jesus. I mean, if you want berating, I kind of think you’re a bit of a freak. No offense. And have a few things to still learn about me. I don’t tend to get pissed or hold a grudge until I’ve been tangibly harmed, or something.ā€
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Ariel lets her go. "No! Not in a sexual way, at least... I don't think." Grace. "In all your years of friendship, you never slept together? I'm surprised." Ariel. "Wh- What kind of question is that?" Grace.
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"You have only accelerated your roll." I sigh. "I didn't mean it sexually. Not any more than like, everything is. There is something about the way you view the world, or like, the way you describe it, that drives me insane. It's the same way I might have been coming off to you, I guess." I gesture with my hand. "I mean, I guess I just never considered that it feels natural to you, but when you say stuff like 'i hope the people i care about HATE ME', it kind of feels like I'm getting fucked with."
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"Sorry, Dana." Ariel. "It’s…" Grace pauses. "Would you rather be hated or be forgotten?"
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"I want to win." I say this completely seriously. "I can entertain the question, but it starts with the acknowledgement that I think it's pointless."
7:59 PM
"I get it, sure. Being ignored is annoying. I threw a fit in Blythe's office because I was an accessory in a whole series of mishaps completely disconnected from my personal life. I've done... a lot of things in the past that can cynically be called 'acting out for attention'. I think that's only normal." I rest my elbows on the table, pointing at her. "But that's not a social impulse. When I overcharge a man for soda to fuck with him, it's not because I care about him or what he thinks. It's boredom, or spite, or some self-interested act. It's rare that I even act like that for anyone with the low baseline of me knowing their name. And, it can get complex, sure; even at its best, I think our friendship involved a fair bit of joking hostility, because that's just how some people roll. But there's a world of difference there."
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"I’m… Just not the kind of person people can get along with. Everywhere I go, I just make things worse for everyone." Grace.
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"Yeah, see, I get that. I would've assumed it was a self-perception thing, and I've felt the same thing. I think that's wrong, and you've got a distorted perspective on yourself, but the real bit that loses me is what comes after. Why resignation? Hell, taking that as true, why should that matter? I don't think I need to explain that this is a world where people aren't treated well or granted success based on any coherent metric. If I could only be loved at the expense of others, I would still pursue it." I'm, like, really drilling down to the core of issues here. Spitting some facts. This is great. I could be a fucking therapist, really. I guess I'm too mean for that.
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"I’m not worried about how I hurt them. I’m worried about how they don’t love me because of it. That’s why I have to make sure they care about me, even at their expense." Grace pauses. "Does that… Make me a bad person? Well, at least… If there is a god or someone defining morality somewhere out there. I have their hatred too." She laughs it off uncomfortably. (edited)
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"I doubt god cares about you. Maybe by proxy." I move on from this sentence. "I think you have a dumb definition of care. Way harder to be a supervillain than just some guy someone cares about. I also think it's demonstrably false that people don't ever love you."
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"…How so?" Grace. (edited)
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"Me? I mean, you could twist the fact that you sometimes annoy me for ideological reasons into hatred, but it seems like a semantics problem at this point. If anyone who has ever felt anything negative about you hates you, then sure, the only people who care about you all hate you." I roll my eyes. "And, well, I can't argue against this with certainty since I haven't lived your life, but come on. I mean, Grobber is a variable I could maybe believe anything about, the therapist was doing her job ignoring the can of worms that is everything else about her... And I don't know about other relationships you have. But... well, come on. We both know... she loved you. I don't think any extreme or hasty conclusions do anyone any good. Sorry, I didn't come here to bring up painful memories or fight you, I just..." I look down at my lap, avoiding eye contact again. I have to repress the urge to smile, actually. It's... perfect. If I can just thread the needle right here... (edited)
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"…Just yesterday, you were pretty sure I hated you. Did this really all spring up so quickly? I don’t… Are you trying to use me for something Dana?"
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I nod. "Yes. I am attempting to use you in order to feel less alone and unfulfilled. I'm not hiding this, nor am I sure what else it could be. I mean, I don't know if I love you. But I take everything I can get. That's what I am. And I think it's possible you understand me in a way very few people do. I fixate on the differences, but there are many things we see eye to eye on. And that... makes me happy. I feel validated by your existence. Doing things like allowing you to stay at my house makes me feel better about myself, and I know it wouldn't be the same for any random person." I reach out a hand. "Honestly? That's why I didn't make a move sooner, or first at all. It's not like it never crossed my mind. I am a very consistent person in my thoughts, and we've known each other for years. But I was afraid. Because I saw myself in you, and I think two people who are similar enough can create something wonderful, or be very, very dangerous. And because I don't think I was willing to love myself for quite some time."
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"…I don’t think I know how to be close to… Anyone. Without making it romantic. If anyone shows me any kindness, I can’t resist them. So… I don’t know what’s a good idea, and what isn’t. So are… Are you sure this is a good idea?" Grace looks at Dana with puppy dog eyes.
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I'm not able to hold back whatever bizarre smile I have now. "I can't guarantee anything. But I found an answer to my dilemma of the idea we'd only drag each other down into disaster, and it's the presence of a tiebreaker. I'm not going to wait any longer." I take a deep breath, calming myself. Gotta be less aggressive. Or more? "I can't guarantee I'll save you or fix you or whatever. I want to at least understand what the fuck your deal is more, which could incidentally help, but that's not a certainty." (edited)
8:58 PM
((accidentally sent early lol))
9:00 PM
"But I'll promise you this. You'll get something out of being with me. Something will be learned. I'm calling you out, Grace. I think you're full of shit. I don't just take people at their word; you want to tell me people who truly know you can only ever hate you? We'll see about that. Prove it. That's the antagonistic half." (edited)
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"…Alright. I accept. Your proposal. If that’s how that’s said." Grace speaks hesitantly.
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Conversation success. ((i am going to call it there for today because i've won advehnt guard))
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((Fair enough))
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((Saturday))
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((im gonna be on flights from like an hour and a half from now to like four hours after that))
10:03 AM
((I’ll be around when i can but would not expect massive progress))
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((For note you start because that last message is not something I can respond to))
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1984
2:29 PM
ā€œSay it however you like.ā€ I chuckle. ā€œThat’s great.ā€
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"…Yeah." Grace. "Yippie!" Ariel.
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ā€œWhew.ā€ I let out a deep breath. ā€œThat’s… yeah. Haha.ā€ I spend thirty seconds eating a sandwich.
2:38 PM
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Grace and Ariel also eat their sandwiches. "So umm… How does this work? Logistically?" Grace.
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ā€œIt depends. I mean, there’s no rules. I can do anything. Up for anything, I mean. We could talk about changing our living situation eventually. Or not. I think the, um… my place is a bit cramped. Though we don’t necessarily have to do anything with that! I know you’ve got your own life to sort out there. It’s more… about spending time together?ā€ I shrug. ā€œThough, today specifically, I’m booked for a day of cowering in fear in my home trying to not die and watching films of dubious quality. So it’s a matter of if you’re up for that.ā€
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"Is this… Really so intuitive to you?" Grace.
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ā€œNo, I really have no idea what I’m doing. But there’s probably a power to that. True knowledge in knowing that I know nothing. Or maybe I’m just talking bullshit.ā€ I yawn. ā€œThe point is this. I’m never gonna go to college, never gonna get a decent ā€˜normal’ job, never gonna have a husband. So I don’t feel the need to chase a ghost of acceptability. Dana picks and chooses what conventions she abides by. Everything’s intuitive once you accept you don’t need to listen to people telling you your feelings are wrong.ā€
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"A… husband?" Grace.
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ā€œI am gay.ā€ Dana Craig is gay.
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"Congratulations!" Ariel. "I… Know that. It’s just… I don’t understand why you said that." Grace.
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ā€œBecause it’s a social norm. I mean, okay, I’m not trying to say being gay is the same as those other things. But it contributes to what I am. There’s some vague ideal of normalcy gatekept from me even beyond my own flaws.ā€
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"…I see." Grace takes a bite of her sandwich. "I’m gay too, to be clear." "Congratulations to you too!" Ariel. "…Right. Yeah." Grace pauses again. "But I… I don’t really know how that’s supposed to work. Especially not with 3 girls." "And a boy!" Ariel. "Oh. What?" Grace.
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Oh, shit. ā€œā€¦Right. I forgot.ā€ Full transparency, yeah? You can handle this. ā€œThat’s really more Ariel’s thing… sort of a, strategic [inaudible].ā€ I fail to explain because I don’t actually get it.
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"What?" Grace.
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ā€œWhere the fuck did he go, though?ā€ I vaguely look around. ā€œObviously he’s not an important aspect from his point of viewā€¦ā€
3:25 PM
This is a much easier question to try to answer.
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"I’m so confused, sorry." Grace.
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ā€œI am too.ā€ I mutter. Shit. Fuck. I’m so stupid, god. Literally in bed with a fed. Not literally. The non-literal meaning of literal. Fuckkkkk. Maybe I could have sorted things out if he was here from the get-go, but like this… Did I just trick a lesbian into hooking up with a dude? Getting super cancelled for that. It happened with me first, dammit. The problem is Ariel being here. I could totally smooth things over just explaining things to Grace myself, but if she contradicts any part of my account it’s all over. Fuck, this was so stupid. I should’ve just broken up with her and then tried to shoot my shot. Like she’d accept that???? I’m only desirable when I’m forbidden. She knew me for years and never gave a shit. But starting all over, it’s obvious I only went with Ariel out of desperation. Right? I mean, Grace, she’s much more my type. Which is the problem. I don’t want someone like me. I don’t want a friend with benefits or something, I need someone better than me, someone that… okay, I definitely need to talk. Say SOMETHING, dumbass. I go with a compromise half-lie. ā€œAriel is seducing a police officer for practical benefits and also because she finds him attractive.ā€ Who cares. If she wants to contradict me, that’s her prerogative. Hell, I’d be happy to leave that to her.
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"Oh. What?" Grace. Ariel nods.
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ā€œā€¦Life has been a little hectic the past week or so. For better and worse.ā€
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"…Same here." Grace. (edited)
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ā€œYou crossed paths briefly. The little guy from this morning. Him. She kind of sprung that info on me right after, so I’m a little confused. Sorry for not mentioning it.ā€
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"Oh, I see…" Grace does not in fact see. "But that’s… I’m not supposed to be involved with him, right?"
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ā€œā€¦No.ā€ I answer without wavering.
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"Okay, good. Then how does… Any of this work. Logistically." Grace. (edited)
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ā€œI mean, I dunno, how does any relationship work? Hard to define. We, you and I, spend time together, dates or what-have-you. It’s probably what you’d normally assume, but sometimes Ariel May is there. Maybe the other guy occasionally, but he seems to usually have his own life going on. Schedules. I’d assume different points in time are more suited for two people rather than a crowd. And we… go from there, seeing what works.ā€ Fuck, I’m so nervous. That was way too close to a genuine sentiment for this moment. Am I blushing? Maybe that would be endearing. Knowing me I probably just look incredibly sweaty. Ugh. I’m losing momentum. ā€œAnything to add, Ariel? This was your ideaā€¦ā€ There’s a mix of desperation and annoyance at the end there. Why am I doing all the talking?
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"I meant, umm… Like in bed." Grace.
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ā€œOh. Um, yeah. Yeah, right! Sex. Of course.ā€ Yeah.
7:40 PM
…
7:40 PM
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7:40 PM
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7:40 PM
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7:40 PM
…
7:40 PM
ā€œI guess it would depend.ā€
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"Did you… Not think about that?" Grace.
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ā€œN—I mean… I don’tā€¦ā€ I look down. Nothing but bad options. Everyone will hate anything you say here. Jeez. ā€œI just didn’t expect needing to have a conversation, I don’t know. It’s not supposed to be like, a planned excursion, right? We wouldn’t be first time innovators involving more than two parties at once, but obviously just limiting to that is fine whenā€¦ā€ I grimace. ā€œAgh, this is the worst. I just… do I fuckin’ give advance notice? Hello, Grace, would you like to have sexual intercourse on this night? I don’t know, it’s… it’s something that’s either happening or isn’t, in my mind. Either it fades to black before the action or starts in it. I guess, this is why… it’s not a very…. exciting phase to… mostly just second hand embarrassment….ā€ Some of those were sentences.
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"…Sorry." Grace.
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ā€œNo, it’s fine, you’re right to ask, probably.ā€
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"I just... I don't think I know how to share." Grace.
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ā€œThat’s… fine. I also… I mean, I’m not opposed to it, but for a first time, that would be, um, a lot.ā€
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"I mean... I meant generally." Grace.
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ā€œYeah, of course.ā€ Not of course! We were just talking about sex, after you corrected me for being general, how am I supposed to keep up?! ā€œI don’t know. I’d be lying to claim to have much authority on the subject, and this is a judgement call you gotta make yourself. I’d just… encourage an open mind. And mention thatā€¦ā€ Uh…
8:22 PM
What do you even want? Was this necessary? I mean, you already had… …nothing. That’s the answer, right? That’s the key phrase that would settle all of this. There doesn’t need to be any sharing. Ariel May doesn’t love me. But of course I can’t just SAY that.
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They wait for Dana to finish.
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ā€œā€¦My own view is that if this results in some sort of conflict, I’d be happy there was just something worth fighting over.ā€ I vaguely condense some sentiments I feel into a weirder sentiment.
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"Personally... I'd rather not fight. Because I know I'll always lose." Grace.
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I let out a short involuntary laugh. ā€œStill nervous, sorry. It’s just a little… are you okay? That’s a fucking stupid question, god. I think… I mean, I agree. For me. I seem to only get by through the pity of others or some fluke. But I don’t… I don’t think it’s good to say that. In absolutes. It becomes a sort of self… I’ve wasted too long avoiding anything I knew was out of reach for me. But I didn’t know shit.ā€
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"It's just... An observable pattern. No one cares about me. Not really. So... If I loved someone... I'd need them to love me that way. To love me more than anyone else." Grace.
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ā€œI’ll, uh, see what I can do.ā€ This is the hardest conversation anyone has ever had.
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"How about this?" Ariel seductively tries to kiss Grace.
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Dana, who is me, makes an incoherent noise that could be interpreted as something involving the word ā€œrollā€.
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"That was… Nice?" Grace is completely disoriented. Ariel tries the same on Dana.
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I don’t resist. Refuse, I mean. It’s… nice.
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Grace also makes an incoherent uncomfortable noise as this happens. Ariel sits back down. "Now, you 2 can go."
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I smile awkwardly. ā€œThere is something seriously wrong with all three of us.ā€ I said it myself, though. No more waiting. No more limits. No half-hearted peck on the cheek. I wrap my arms around Grace. One hand around the back of her head, restricting her gaze. Look at me. Look at me, god dammit! I’m right here. She’s dead, there is nothing left for you there. And here… stop being so fucking narcissistic. You want to belittle someone? Belittle me. Mock the prude, the virgin who couldn’t even find love when she found love. And so she comes crawling back to you. You want to cut yourself, you fucking dollar store goth? Let me know the already obvious fact that therapy did nothing for you? Don’t you dare. Target me. Claw at my throat. Defile me. I can take it. You won’t be able to stop me. I pull her in close. I steal her breath. The circulation of air, of life between us becomes one hideous amalgamate. I taste the forbidden fruit. I kiss her, dumbass.
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((End session))
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((Saturday))
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Grace stares at Dana intensely as they kiss. Her expression is pleading, desperate. She kisses her back.
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It lasts however I deign is long enough. I need to moderate myself, make sure I’m not grabbing her too roughly or anything. I pull back. There. See? Love. Don’t concern yourself with some authenticity you can never see for sure. I’ll handle that. You’ve got enough on your plate already, sis. ā€œWe’ll do the rest later.ā€ I don’t turn my head away from her, but I avert my eyes from directly looking at Grace. ā€œI think we’ve been abandoned, Ariel. Unless you noticed otherwise, I don’t think Kingsley’s been anywhere nearby since we came in here. He may have been compromised.ā€
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Ariel claps after Dana kisses Grace.
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Weird girl.
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"You… sure changed topics quickly. Was it that bad?" Grace.
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ā€œNo, that was great.ā€ Not a lie, or anything. No complaints here. Obviously she’s no stranger to doing this. Should I say that? Might come off wrong. ā€œI’m just paranoid. Rational. Given the situation, I don’t think it’s unreasonableā€¦ā€ I hug her briefly before pulling back and entering full Dana Craig schizo mode. ā€œBest case scenario is that yeah, the guys just out of sight, or distracted for his own dumb reasons.ā€ I scan the Subwayā„¢ļø restaurant. ā€œBut the worst is that an ambush is already ready. I don’t think they’d be so bold as to storm a public venue, but outside of thatā€¦ā€
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"So what should we do?" Ariel.
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ā€œReconnaissance.ā€ I withdraw some paper from the notebook.
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Grace watches but doesn’t say anything.
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ā€œI didn’t mention it… at the time I thought it would make things more complicated. But I think I’ve met with the same entity Grobber has. I’m much more partial to what I got out of it.ā€
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"What did you get?"
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ā€œThe ability to pass out on command.ā€ I chuckle. ā€œAlso possession, as a side effect.ā€
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"You get possessed?" Grace.
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ā€œNah, that would be inconvenient. I’m the one doing the possessing.ā€ I write ā€˜Jonathan Kingsley’, which is obviously the only reasonable spelling for his name which I’ve heard.
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Nothing happens.
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Hm. ā€˜John Kingsley’?
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Nothing.
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ā€œThis doesn’t usually happen, I swear.ā€ Fuck. That would’ve been a cool moment to step out for a bit. Shit. ā€˜Jonathon’?
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Nothing.
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Like. Can the full name have the h too? ā€˜Johnathan’?
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((You’re writing the full name right. It’s not just a contextless first name))
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((Yeah))
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Dana finds herself in the body of Johnathan Kingsley. He’s standing out of view, watching the entrance of the Subway intensely.
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Of course. Of course I’m just wrong. I glance at the closest reflective surface.
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There’s nothing reflective around.
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Annoying.
12:48 PM
Fuck. Why did I even do this? Am I stupid?
12:49 PM
If he really was in hot shit, I would probably have been stuck too.
12:51 PM
No, it wasn’t an unreasonable assumption that there’d be a way back. And it was useful info.
12:55 PM
Why would I think something had gone wrong? Didn’t he say that he’d be lurking out of sight? No, it was just that he wouldn’t be near us. Nothing about… Kingsley has to have a phone on him, right? I use that.
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He does have a phone.
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Okay. I attempt to view his reflection on the unlit glass.
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Dana finds herself back at the subway table. Ariel is hugging her unconscious body. Grace looks uncomfortable.
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ā€œā€¦We should be alright. Until he starts asking questions, I guess, but that’s a separate issue.ā€ This is the worst. Well, is it? You’re still safe, for now. No, but…
1:20 PM
I non-aggressively exit Ariel’s grasp. It’s bad to use this ability frivolously. Too obvious. In the worst case, though, can I not just explain myself to Kingsley? He’s an ally. A tentative one, maybe, but I think he has it in him to betray me way less than these two. He’s a… well, anyway. And he’s only with us because his boss practically knows the truth about me already.
1:25 PM
But he doesn’t quite know. That’s important. I don’t just… I don’t want to get by because people pity me! By the grace of others. When it was just me and Ariel, that was fine, just accomplices, but all this… I’m just asking to get destroyed. If that’s true, though, why the fuck did I do that? Could’ve just stayed here. Waited things out, looked more carefully for him. Not like I had any need to leave. But I did, obviously! This self-deception shtick is stupid. I hate this. I hate these two, and I hate this situation, and I hate myself. For letting it happen. I needed to get out, even for just a second.
1:30 PM
Is that true? I think it’s less self-deception and more… well, still self-deception, but like… self-disambiguation.
1:30 PM
It’s not as simple as I’d like. I would just leave if I hated this.
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Fine, I’m excited. For the future. For the first time, like, ever. That’s exactly the problem. I can fuck up here. So just don’t. Obviously. Pretty sure ditching your own arrangement is fucking up. It’s already fucked, is the problem!
1:41 PM
Look how fucking miserable she is. That’s not something Ariel can see. But I can. The onus is on me to pull the plug. I won’t, though.
1:45 PM
I’m the only one accountable for my own actions. The only one responsible for myself. So I’m not responsible for anyone else. That’s the deal. She needs to come to that conclusion herself. Until then, I’m going to do whatever I can for what I want.
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"Dana I don’t… I don’t think I can do this." Grace.
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Oh, good, it’s ending already. FUCK
1:57 PM
…
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"I’m sorry." Grace.
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I sigh. ā€œMm. Yeah, that makes sense.ā€
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"Aww, what’s wrong?" Ariel. "I just… I don’t… I’m sorry. I’m not cut out for this sort of thing." Grace.
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ā€œDefinitely easier. If you know something won’t work, to just save yourself the trouble of being proven right. I understand, really.ā€ Haha. Ah, man. So this is what rejection feels like. A lot of new experiences for Dana Craig. I think I’ve grown to understand you much better. Yes…. If I can’t have you, then a half-measure will only make me miserable. If you won’t love me, then commit to hating me, you self-righteous ass.
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"Aww, that’s a shame… Are you sure?" Ariel. Grace gets up. "…No."
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That’s a peculiar response, given the context. So this is it? That’s the end of this exciting arc in my life? Come on, dumbass. This is your moment. Your moment to turn everything around and say something at the climactic scene where she’s about to get on a plane or something. Figure it out. Nothing helpful comes to mind, nah. ā€œā€¦I guess I just still can’t believe this morning happened. That’s probably why.ā€ I address this to no one clearly discernible.
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"I’m really sorry, Dana. But I just…" Grace stops, and starts leaving.
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What. What?! What do you fucking want? What do I do, huh? It’s over! It’s fucking over, so shut up! There’s nothing left! Nothing but retrospective. Where we go from here. So go ahead. Retrospect. Dana doesn’t have anything to say quickly enough to interrupt her.
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Grace leaves. "Don’t worry, Dana. She’s the tragic yuri type, right? So I’m sure she just thought you were too good for her." Ariel.
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ā€œI’m not so sure.ā€ It’s the polyamory, right? That was the operative issue. Explicitly. Oh, unless I was never on the table to begin with, and she just did that for her insane self-flagellation. Ah, that ugly bitch I get wasted with found a girlfriend, now she can offer me something I want. Yeah? Pff. I mean, that’s the better option. If it’s the former, that means I had a clear path forward. By. You know. Dumping the girl who just fucking cucked me for a policeman. The only person who has ever been intimate with me. That one. I mean, she wouldn’t care, certainly.
2:49 PM
ā€œā€¦should be fine on food, then.ā€ I get up.
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Ariel gets up as well.
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ā€œSubway sucks.ā€ I say this, leaving the building. Hey, I guess someone two degrees away from the people who want to murder me knows about my ace in the hole now. Good job, Dana!
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Ariel follows. Kingsley runs up to them afterwards.
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ā€œHello.ā€ I acknowledge his presence.
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"…Hi." Kingsley. "Hello!" Ariel. He doesn’t respond to that one.
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Wow. Lot to read into. Really compelling dynamic the three of us got going. I mean, that’s the fucked up part. I wanted her because I knew she would probably say no. Neither of these two would. How does that mean anything?
3:02 PM
ā€œLet’s go, then.ā€
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"Right." Kingsley.
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I walk back to my home.
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They arrive home without issue.
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Good. Good stuff. I enter my home.
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Ariel follows. Kingsley does not.
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I shrug. ā€œYour call, man.ā€
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"I’ll watch the hallway, just in case." It’s very clearly not why he’s doing that.
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ā€œRight, good thinking.ā€
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Kingsley moves away.
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I shut the door on Johnahthahn Kingsley and his stupid name. I cannot muster up the energy to deal with you either, pal.
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Ariel sits down on the couch. "Dana…?"
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ā€œYeah.ā€ Yeah with a period.
3:20 PM
I also lock the door, for whatever it’s worth. Security.
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"Do you remember what you said earlier?"
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ā€œI say a lot of things. Which one?ā€
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"About how if we wanted to do it… We should just ask?" Ariel tries to strike a seductive pose.
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ā€œAh.ā€ I’m alone at home with my girlfriend, exhausted emotionally. To be honest, it was what I was thinking of. I’ve held off because… yeah. But that’s the furthest thing from my mind right now. Who fucking cares? But I don’t like that she beat me to bringing it up. It’s like I’m always getting strung along for whatever she wants. Maybe I’ll regret this, but who cares? Everyone puts too much emphasis on ā€˜firsts’. It was going to happen eventually. But it’ll be on my terms. ā€œI do remember, yes.ā€ I sit beside her.
3:38 PM
You’ve already made me do too much of the talking today. Enough of that. It’s not that distinct of a maneuver than what happened with Grace. I guess I really am like that. That idea that… All women are the same to me. Eugh. That’s probably validating, though, at least to her. So maybe this is okay. The same obsessive feeling inside, the same awkward/compelling eye contact, all that stuff from the neck up. I don’t grab her the same way, though, holding the back of her head. I have confidence Ariel will at least feign paying attention to me. I grab lower.
3:39 PM
((I am ready to end the session and/or skip ahead an undefined amount of time.))
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There’s a knock at the door. "I’m not here to fight." It’s the voice of the red haired man Dana met in Bob's body. Ariel turns towards the door.
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ā€œJESUSā€ Dana Craig topples comically over onto the floor.
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There’s noise of a scuffle outside as Dana falls over.
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Okay. Alright. I slowly bring myself to my feet. ā€œThis… that’s one of Johnner’s men. Fuck. God dammit.ā€ Great timing, shithead!
3:50 PM
((Dana would diegetically misremember the same way I am right now if that’s not true.))
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"I’ve got him!" Kingsley. "Like I said, I wasn’t fighting back!" Red haired guy.
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ā€œIs he alone?! What’s going on?ā€ I shout to Kingsley.
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"He’s alone! I’ve handcuffed him." Kingsley. "I just want to talk!" Red haired guy.
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I turn to Ariel, overcoming the absolutely tumultuous set of thoughts looking at her fills me with right now. ā€œYou don’t know this guy, do you?ā€
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She shakes her head.
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ā€œWho the hell are you?!ā€ I am NOT opening this door blindly
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"My name is Gordon Joapajann! I’m a member of Jeff Johnner’s team and a member of the New Edlightenment. I think we both want the same thing here."
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What? ā€œEvery single part of that sentence says otherwise.ā€
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"I know. Right now, I’m supposed to kill you. But I'm tired of the senseless death."
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ā€œā€¦He’s handcuffed?ā€
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"Yes!" Kingsley.
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ā€œā€¦.Uggggh.ā€ If this is a thing where like, they’re holding Kingsley at gunpoint right now to say this or something, I’m gonna be so annoyed right before I die. I open the door.
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On the other side, Gordon is handcuffed and Kingsley is holding 2 guns.
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ā€œNice work.ā€ I’m pleasantly surprised.
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"Thank you." Kingsley. "See? That’s the power of romance." Ariel. "I… Actually did it for Dana." Kingsley.
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ā€œOkay, we— whatever this is, we’re not doing it right now. Gordon. Why are you here.ā€
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"I… I want you to kill Jeff Johnner." Gordon.
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ā€œBelieve me, I’d love to. Not even gonna bother questioning your motives. It can’t be done. Do I look like an assassin?ā€
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"You somehow made Marco Gould and Gus Amon kill themselves, didn’t you? I can get you into his secret hideout, and you can do your thing." Gordon.
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ā€œI didn’t do anything to Gus. I’d never heard his name in my life until after he was already dead. …You can think what you want about the other guy. Why was he robbing a fuckin’ convenience store, anyway?ā€
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"To pay that Michelle girl’s debt." Gordon.
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ā€œToā€¦ā€ I take a deep breath. ā€œOkay. Fine. If you answer my questions, I’ll do what I can. Why did Michelle have debt, and why was Gould connected to that? It seems like a bizarre setup if the debt was to you guys.ā€
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"She was a serial con artist working for us. Johnner wanted her to take Grobber Brentwood's money but she cut contact entirely after that. Johnner decided he was owed something. And while we’re talking about it, her lead inside was some girl named Grace Wight. If you don’t kill Johnner, he’s planning to have her killed by one of his assassins too. It’s a matter of urgency at this point. I can’t let any more people die miserable." Gordon. (edited)
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ā€œJesus. Everyone around me was…?ā€ Why does that bother me? It shouldn’t. It’s not like I give a shit they were breaking the law. I just… I sat at that stupid fucking register for… ā€œYeah. Okay. But I need to know everything you can tell me about Jeff. His whereabouts, any aliases he goes by, habits he hasā€¦ā€ I still don’t really trust this man. I don’t want to make it entirely clear what I’m doing. But I need more info.
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"He’s in his hideout. It’s hidden as one of the employee only areas in the Avengard mall. I can take you to the specific one myself. I’ll do anything you need." Gordon pauses. "As for aliases, I think Jeff Johnner is a pseudonym. But he changed his name before he came to America, so I’ve never heard his real name."
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ā€œOkay. …Was Gus Amon the guys real name? Just out of curiosity.ā€
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"I don’t see why it wouldn’t be." Gordon.
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Wait. That doesn’t make sense.
7:50 PM
ā€œWhat…? …And Jeff’s current name — Jeff Johnner — I mean, he goes by it, it’s what would be on any, well, legal documentation he’d have for any reason…?ā€
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"I assume so?" Gordon.
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ā€œSomething… strange is happening.ā€ Why didn’t it work? Is it a matter of personal identity? Could he really still consider a name he never uses who he is?
7:57 PM
ā€œOne more question. Do you know if there’s anyone higher than Jeff in the pecking order? Doesn’t matter if you know who they are or not.ā€
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"There is… But only he knows who they are. So if he dies it’ll all crumble anyway." Gordon. "That doesn’t really seem like a good structure for an organization." Ariel.
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This is just like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind.
8:01 PM
I think it’s probably exactly the same. But that doesn’t help me.
Ehn/PC pinned a message to this channel. 7/29/2023 8:01 PM
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ā€œā€¦Shit. I have to think of something… Do you know who would know about Jeff from before he came here?ā€ I’m not really trying to hide the significance of this anymore.
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"No?" Gordon.
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Fuck. How truly ironic, that I would be stumped by a need to solve the mystery.
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I hold my head. ā€œThere’s still… hm. If Iā€¦ā€ Agh! Why should I care if Grace lives or dies, anyway? She doesn’t! But this is about me, too. He wants me dead, and I sure don’t have a way to change his mind on that. So I can’t take a direct route. I have endless resources. I can do almost anything! I just need to think of something.
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"I can get you close. There’s not many people living in that base, and they’ve mostly split off recently. Last I checked it was just the 3 of us, and the other one tried to kill me on a whim, so I doubt she’ll be back." Gordon.
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ā€œā€¦The New Edlightenment. You said that at the start. It’s a separate thing from Johnner? He doesn’t have anything to do with that?ā€
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"We work for Johnner." Gordon.
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ā€œOkay. But… no, that doesn’t make sense either.ā€ I’m very perplexed looking.
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"How so?" Gordon.
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ā€œThe overlap I could understand, but the full integration into someone’s ranks of a cult literally visibly named for a different guy isā€¦ā€ It couldn’t be that easy of an answer, right? ā€œI suppose that doesn’t tell me much on its own. You said Grobber was ā€˜supposed’ to have his money stolen, right? When that actually happened, was that under Johnner’s orders?ā€
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"Of course. But, well… The new cult was started inside of Johnner’s organization by Ethfan. We were always working for Johnner, in a sense." Gordon.
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ā€œThese names keep getting worse. Please tell me you just mispronounced Ethan.ā€
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"He’s foreign too. I think." Gordon.
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((Saturday))
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((Damn…))
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"He’s foreign too. I think." Gordon.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 4:41 PM
ā€œFrom the same place?ā€
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"That I don’t know." Gordon. (edited)
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 4:45 PM
ā€œHm. Just wondering if he might be someone who knows. Do you mention that because it’s also not the name he was born with?ā€
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"No? That is his name, to my knowledge. Why?" Gordon. (edited)
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 4:49 PM
ā€œI guess it doesn’t particularly matter.ā€ He might be worth looking into later, but… ā€œYou answer directly to Johnner, right? If you don’t know, it seems hard to imagine anyone does. Ah, well.ā€
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"Are you going to help or not?" Gordon. (edited)
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:07 PM
ā€œI’m not a god, Gordon. You’d definitely be better off asking someone else about this. But I can see what I can do.ā€
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"It’s somewhat hard to find anyone who’d side against Johnner. Unless I went to like… Howard Scott. But even then he’d probably just put me in jail." Gordon. Kingsley approaches Dana. "What if we just… Went there? He’d never see it coming."
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:13 PM
ā€œMaybe. I mean, in concept, killing someone is really easy. Is he alone, Gordon?ā€
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"He should be." Gordon.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:28 PM
ā€œThen fine. We ambush him. Kill or be killed.ā€
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"Can I be uncuffed or is that too much to ask?" Gordon. Kingsley turns to Dana for the answer.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:31 PM
ā€œI’m convinced this would be too stupid of an attempt at a ruse. Go ahead.ā€
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Kingsley uncuffs him, and Gordon gets up. "Are you ready, then?"
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:41 PM
I ensure I have at least one gun. I bring pepper spray, the gas mask, the notebook, and a singular bottle of… oh, right. I drank it all. Have to still buy groceries tomorrow. Whatever. ā€œOkay. Let’s fuckin’ go.ā€
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Gordon leads the way out. Kingsley follows.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:48 PM
ā€œSorry. Hopefully this will be the last timeā€¦ā€ I mumble awkwardly back to Ariel.
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"It’s alright." Ariel nods.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:54 PM
I press onward. It’s time to kill a guy.
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Ariel follows. Gordon leads them to the mall.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:55 PM
Oh. I didn’t expect her to. Is the mall open?
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Because it’s approaching midnight, the mall is slowly closing. It is still open however.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 5:59 PM
ā€œAnd you’re sure he’s here?ā€ I whisper in hushed tone to Gordon. ā€œNothing like that funeral or whatever happening right now?ā€
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"Funeral's over. He’ll be here." Gordon nods, before walking into an employee only area.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 6:05 PM
I follow from a bit of a distance, while ensuring Kingsley is still around.
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Kingsley and Ariel are both here. "I’ll watch the door and make sure no backup comes." Kingsley. "Okay!" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 6:08 PM
I nod. Fair enough. I continue after Gordon. What am I actually planning on doing…? I can’t just shoot a man dead in public, surely.
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Ariel follows. It’s a normal looking kitchen. There are a few doors. "This way." Gordon points to another door.
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Dana Craig 8/5/2023 6:14 PM
I guess having a medic of sorts is good. I don’t have any contributions. He can continue leading the way.
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The door behind them opens, and a few younger girls walk in. One of them is Lelouch Maoziwam. It is also now midnight. ((End chapter, end session))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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10: Advanced Gaming
šŸ”„ 4
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-lelouch
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:10 PM
(first)
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"Who are you?" The girl next to Lelouch.
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I point my gun at the new arrivals. ...Not with my finger on the trigger, though. I don't need any unnecessary trouble, and one of them's in no state to fight. "...What is this?"
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:11 PM
"Didn't you hear her? She asked who you were!" Lelouch rolls her eyes.
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"I don't recognize them either." Redhead guy. "Hi! I'm Ariel May!" Ariel May.
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"God, f-" Okay. So much for anonymity. "I'm here for something important. Don't get in my way." I nervously turn to look all around me quickly. This is... a bad situation.
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"Do I spray them, Ms Lelouch?" Green hair girl.
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"I would not try anything if I were you." I put my finger on the trigger. I don't want to get attacked, even if they seem to not be as well armed. I need to be able bodied.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:14 PM
"They could be dangerous if we get to close." She gestures to the gun.
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((As in rest it on the trigger. I didn't just fucking shoot her))
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The red haired guy grabs a kitchen knife defensively.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:20 PM
"What're you doing here, anyway?" Lelouch asks, steadying her ground as she leans on the green-haired girl.
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"We're the ones with the gun. You tell us your plan first." Red haired guy.
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((okay i needed to double check what dana is aware of to not break things glad i checked)) I frown. "Lelouch...?" Weird name. I think I've heard it before...
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:26 PM
"I'm not telling anything!" Lelouch is standing her ground.
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The cop takes out the gun that he’s had the whole time and aims it at Dana.
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"I'm here to confront someone hiding out in this area of the building. It's night by now, isn't it? You all shouldn't be here." I smirk at the cop. "Just try me. I'm confident in my abilities." No, I'm not. ((Dana is sweating.))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:32 PM
"...Well, we're here to do the same." Lelouch clears her throat. "Plus, this is more important than sleep." (edited)
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"Then go away and let us handle it." Red haired guy. "Not a chance!" Green haired girl.
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Ugh. "You..." Shit. I couldn't give a damn about a quirky group of young women here for no good reason. But that cop... not only is he armed, but his presence, the presence of the police, could mean... "His name's Jeff." I deem this acceptable information to release. I'm not confident what my plan is to get out of this... but I'll figure it out.
5:36 PM
((Favorite line.))
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"Yeah, we realized. Ms Lelouch is smart like that." Green haired girl.
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"Then are you here for him? ...Or me? ......Or I guess one of these other guys here." I force the issue.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:39 PM
"Well, since you're a woman, I think it's safe to tell you that we're only here for Johnner."
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"What? Y... have you never seen him in person?" I lower my guard a little. Bad move, but I can't help it. I still have the gun out. "No one right here right now is him, to be clear."
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"We know." Green haired girl.
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"Yeah, I guess he doesn't have the right vibes for it." I glance over at the red haired man.
5:41 PM
What the fuck am I saying? Man.
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"Wait… Lelouch. Knows Johnner… Are you Lelouch Maoziwam? Gus's sort-of kid?" Red haired guy.
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"Maoziwam?" I re-raise my guard.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:43 PM
"I've seen him in person. He's a dick." She nods, thinking to herself, before snapping back to the conversation. "I'm not answering any questions regarding Gus, I've had enough of that man today. Even beyond the grave he can't do anything but be a nuisance." She grumbles.
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"Mm..." This is bizarre. It's like someone who has existed just barely on the periphery of everything I've been involved in prior to now, but never knew of.
5:45 PM
"It should have been obvious regardless of my sex, then. Nobody here looks like Johnner."
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"I wasn’t the biggest fan of Gus, but I owe him some favours. Don’t make us hurt you." Gordon. "Stop judging her based solely off whatever awful man you know! She’s so much greater!" Green haired girl.
5:46 PM
((Gordon is the red haired guy. This doesn’t matter I just accidentally said his name))
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"Aren't you like... aligned with the woman who basically killed him?" I glance again at Gordon (that's his name).
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:47 PM
"Why would a favour to Gus make you hurt me? I've been told I was practically a daughter to him, not that I reciprocated the feelings." She sighs. "And Carolyn's innocent! We proved that." Lelouch says, smugly.
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(His name is Gordon.)
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:47 PM
(i think his name is gordon)
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"Yeah! She did!" Green haired girl.
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"Oh, you know of her. Good, that makes things quicker. She's scum. A serial killer. She murdered my friend, more or less confessed to it. She broke the mind of my... of someone close to me. If you want to de-escalate this standoff, speaking in her favor isn't the way to do it. Even Gordon had the sense to not go there." I say his name, which is Gordon.
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Ariel and the other girl with Lelouch continue to silently exist. They didn’t go anywhere or anything.
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Thank you, Ariel.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:51 PM
Thank you, blank.
5:53 PM
"Fine, but only because it's you who's saying that. Anyways," she turns, "Jade, if this is Johnner's hideout, where is he?" She asks the green-haired girl. (edited)
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????
5:54 PM
((To be clear is this a dead end is there more door to go)) "...You don't even know?"
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Jade points at a door behind Dana.
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"Yes." I pretend to have known that myself.
5:56 PM
"I'm... going to head in now. I can't keep treating you as enemies as well as him without dividing my attention too much and getting capped. But if I'm double-crossed... even death won't stop you from suffering for it." That's such a killer line, damn. I'm nailing this.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 5:56 PM
"Ah. I'd never dopuble-cross a lady!" Lelouch šŸ˜‡s.
5:57 PM
"Do you want to head in Jade?" She asks her bestie.
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Jade nods and pulls out a bottle of perfume.
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I think I hate this girl. I check my allies are still present, and head forward to the boss. I notice the perfume thing and I don't comment on it because that's stupid. But I register it.
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As soon as Dana turns her back to her, Jade sprays her with it.
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"Y--" I cough. I... "The, f..." Johnner. Johnner. Is the door still closed? I can't... if he... my approach, it... I glare at Lelouch. "You little bitch." I understand all too well. Jade... this girl addressed her beforehand. It must have been some kind of code to attack me. They said 'spray' earlier, right? So this was her idea of a weapon. I know her type. It would be... a waste to focus on Jade. She's hapless... pitiable, even. Someone so overtaken by... God, I don't even know what. What does she see in... it's just, it numbs the mind. Makes people behave irrationally. That cloying, 'Ms Lelouch' stuff... this is... I start to laugh. But in a cool, calm way. I don't sound like a lunatic right now. "You think you're clever? That you can take advantage of the others around you, just in case, hide behind them, avoid being in the line of fire yourself...? It suits a rich brat. I'm sorry, but whatever that was supposed to do didn't work, Maoziwam. I'm right here, and I'm still going to continue with my mission. So whatever there is between you, go ahead and tell Blythe, that... no, maybe it really is a coincidence." Wait, I'm losing track. Are Johnner and Blythe on the same side? I mean, Gordon double crossed the former, and circumstantial evidence makes it seem like he's aligned with Carolyn. So is this just another one of the people doing that kind of a maneuver? How does Maoziwam fit into this? Shuichi, I mean? I don't... I can't remember any mob connections with him, but it could be the case. He's the most likely culprit behind everything in general, at least. That doesn't necessitate anything for this situation, though. I suppose it's something to spend more time on later. Damn. Did they like, turn the AC off since the place is closed? It's suddenly way fucking hotter. Do malls close? They do, right? Not a 24/7 convenience store deal. I weigh my gun in my hand. ((I'm not fucking done typing but you can react to this if you want thats only fair))
6:24 PM
The weight of a life, the weight of the world... I wax poetically in my own mind. Kind of crazy how much my life has escalated as of recently. I know what I said, but... can this even count...? It's not like I can kill anyone. That'd break her heart. --All of them. Like, fuck up the psyches of those who remain, I mean. I'm a dick, not a monster. Chick's already injured, anyway. It'd be redundant. "You're lucky my standards for what betrayal is are high. But if you fuck with me again, even a prank, in stakes this high-- just, just don't, alright?" I finish addressing Lelouch and turn around to what actually matters, that being the mafia plot. I really shouldn't--I don't want to pay attention to anything else. Oh, I do look at Ariel, y'know, practical reason to do so. Confirm she's here, and, I mean, obviously I'd want to look at her, right?! Shut the fuck up! I open the fucking door. Someone is going to have to hold me back physically to stop me from forward progress.
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"Listen to everything Ms Lelouch says." Jade says this to Dana and then sprays Ariel. Gordon backs away and holds up the knife threateningly. "What the hell was that?" (edited)
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 6:26 PM
"Jade- Stop spraying people! At least spray the untrustworthy guy." Lelouch rolls her eyes. She, too, makes sure her people are still there. Girl and Cop.
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They are indeed still there.
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"I don't understand why..." I feel sick. God, why am I... I was ready to do this, right? Maybe it was a dumb or rash decision, but I had to! For.... I don't, I mean... it's self-preservation. Why am I faltering now? Because of some-- a minor interruption? I acknowledge Jade's remark. "I don't plan on antagonizing your group. We obviously share a common goal here. I just..." Fuck. God fucking dammit. I get it now, yeah, haha, I totally empathize with your suicide cult, Blythe! No need to continue struggling through discomfort anymore when you're fucking DEAD. Roll credits! That's all, folks! I'm joking. I don't want to die. I don't want to fucking die. But why can't I live either? Why can't I ever be happy with anything I attain? Jesus CHRIST, how do you think this is the time to think of that?! Kind of in the middle of something! Wait, did I stop...? Fucking [r slur internally thought], I'm going! It's now or never! I'm not gonna become less fucking inept if I wait! I OPEN THE DOOR.
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"I’m trying! You, by the door. Point your gun at Gordon. If he refuses to be sprayed again, shoot him." Jade says this.
6:33 PM
The door is open at this point. It’s a living room with a bunch of doors in different directions.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 6:34 PM
Lelouch observes. Is the spray really not working, or does Dana (I don't know if I know her name ic) just have good will power?
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((You do not know her name))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 6:35 PM
((I didn't think so. Unlike Gordon.))
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I casually point my gun at Gordon. Obviously I don't intend to shoot my ally, but this is a problem. "We need to move. He's probably aware of our approach by now, and if he gets away, we won't get another chance. If these jokers are trying to perform guerilla marketing, indulge them so we can move on." God, this is so stupid. I can't believe I'm saying this, I wish I didn't have to, but they've got firepower too, and we can't move on until they let us. This fucking bitch. What, is she trying her own business venture? Wanna be independent from daddy, but not so much that you stop relying on his aid?! ((Dana does not know anything about the financial situation of Lelouch Maoziwam.)) I hate this. He's probably gone already. Maybe he was never here. All I'm doing is fucking things up, ugh. ((Top ten best characters dana craig invents in her head. #1: Florent L'Louch))
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"Jesus Christ." Gordon drops the knife and gets sprayed. "All of you state your full names and phone numbers." Jade. "I’m Ariel May." Ariel May shares her phone number. (edited)
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"Dana Craig. [Dana's phone number]. No point in hiding it when my girlfriend already spilled. Do you need to communicate with me...?" What is happening?! Why is she... I mean, okay, I won't look a gift horse...
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 6:41 PM
"Jade's always so productive. It's why I love her!" Lelouch casually says this to the other girl beside her.
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"Gordon Joapajann." Gordon says his phone number. "Maria Stanley." Maria Stanley says her phone number. The cop says nothing, intuitively understanding that he wasn’t being asked.
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"Stanley as a last name..." I mutter, possibly audibly to the others or possibly not. I half want to attempt to see if I can resolve one of the earliest points of confusion from this unusual adventure. But there's more important things. "There's still more fucking doors. Where do we go, Gordon?!" I guess... does Jade -- I think that was her name -- she, also knows. But I wouldn't feel comfortable interrogating her on it.
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"It’s through this door." Gordon walks through the door Dana opened and everyone follows. (edited)
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Yeah. Right. I fiddle with the gun. I follow him. Progress.
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Jade points at a door in the living room. "That’s where they were keeping me earlier." She leads everyone to it and opens it.
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Okay, well, I'm still heading towards what seems to be the place to go, which is that.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 6:48 PM
Lelouch trusts Jade, so she follows her.
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The room mostly looks like a storage room. In the middle are 2 strange prison cells containing Harriet Kadin and ???. ((End session because they already left))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/19/2023 6:51 PM
(SLEEP!)
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-harriet-lelouch-unknown
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Hu….h…? I look around the room frantically. Yes, I’m fucking frantic now, fine! There was… supposed to… Hey, wait, this is the room from… My eyes stop on him. That fucking guy!!! ā€œYOU!ā€ I point my gun at him. This disgusting, amnesiac, walking dead to rights—Why… after all this time…. No, no, if he’s locked up, I should… I, it’s… The one at fault, I mean, logically, I’m, I should be asking, towards… I turn around quickly, pointing my gun at the red-haired man. ā€œGORDOOOOON! What the FUCK IS THIS?! YOU SAID HE WAS HERE AND ALONE, DIDN’T YOU?! DID YOU THINK YOU COULD CHEAT ME? IS THAT THE KIND OF SAP YOU TAKE ME FOR?ā€
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"Gordon!? What? Where??"
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The green haired girl looks at ??? and then back to Dana. "Wait, you know him too?" Gordon raises his hands in the air defensively. "He's in a cage, and probably lost his memory again. I didn't think it counted."
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ā€œThat’s not what I asked!ā€ I continue aiming at him.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:04 PM
Harriet Kadin has no idea what the fuck is going on. No one ever tells her anything.
🄺 1
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:04 PM
Lelouch lelouches next to green-haired girl.
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"Hi!" Ariel May says hi to Harriet.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:05 PM
"Uh, hi?" Harriet says. "Who are you? What's happening? You're very pink."
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ā€œShut the fuck up, Ariel! I’m—there’s only one fucking reason I came here, why is he not here? How was your intelligence inept enough to misplace—misidentify, the, toā€¦ā€ I’m fucking
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:06 PM
"Why am I in a cage." Harriet says flatly.
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"We've only checked one room. Nothing confirms he's not here." Gordon says this and then turns to Harriet. "A friend of yours threw a grenade at Johnner's face. He didn't take it well."
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:08 PM
Harriet frowns. "I see there's some kind of, um, hugely emotional dramatic thing happening here - related to your, uh, various personal neuroses - but I honestly don't think I need to be here right now. This doesn't - involve me, I want to be - seperate from whatever deranged bullshit is happening right now, cleanly severed - fuck."
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Right. Right, of course. There’s more places. I knew this. Just wanted to see if I could catch him off guard. ā€œThis is the kind of thing—If you know there’s other people, then you mention it…!ā€ I look at the woman I don’t know. ā€œWhat are you fucking talking about?ā€
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"Ms Lelouch? Should I spray her?" Green haired girl.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:09 PM
"Uh- Absolutely!" Lelouch's guard is up up up.
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ā€œWhy, with the perfumeā€¦ā€ I sigh at this irrelevant detail.
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"Look.... I didn't think you'd run into him. He's basically just a child inside. I don't like him, but don'rt hurt him." Gordon. Jade sprays Harriet with perfume.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:11 PM
"Way to go Jade!" Lelouch cheers on for a task that doesn't really deserve it.
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ā€œYou—what do you mean, ā€˜personal neuroses’?! Are you looking down on me?!ā€ Eyes wide open, I ignore Gordon for now and stare at the new woman. I’m—I’m only perturbed, because…. I just, it’s trying to stop her from… um… Dana Craig stares at the person in question with eyes that look on the verge of tears, devotedly playing the part of rage. She’s running on fumes right now, and she knows it. But acknowledging this beyond the bare minimum would topple an entire house of cards.
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I stare around at everyone in here. "You..." I look at the girl spouting nonsense. "Is your name Dana?"
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ā€œShut the fuck up, Jay! I have bigger fish to fry!ā€
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:16 PM
Harriet squints up at the strange woman standing above her. "Sorry - I wasn't looking down on you. I'm not really allowed to do that anymore, which is a stupid thing to hear and an even stupider thing to try and explain, but - you have a gun. And I - I can help, somehow. This situation is - salvageable, right?" Harriet's breathing is heavy. "I can rectify it. I'm really, really good at defusing tension."
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"Fish... fish? Do you know Hav Kerloe?"
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:17 PM
"And I'm not dangerous, either. If you let me out of the cage I'll just be prime meat, see? My legs don't work. I can be the whipping girl."
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ā€œWhat the fuck are you talking about? Don’t get me involved in—-euuuurgh! You fucking pervert!ā€ I don’t even know. E-Everyone’s an enemy. I look everywhere. Shit.
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"Hav? How the hell do you remember his name?" Gordon.
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"I don't want to talk to you, you traitor!" (edited)
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:19 PM
Harriet frowns. "It's not a sex thing. Anymore. From this point on it's not a weird sex thing, not that it ever was - fuck. I'm - looking in other directions, right now." She shifts her eyes up to Jade.
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Jade tries to open Harriet's cage and fails. "There's a key, it's probably around here somewhere. You 3, go look for it in this room."
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:21 PM
"Don't worry, faithful maiden. We'll find a way to get you out!" Lelouch seems more focused on the fact that Harriet's in a cage than whatever the fuck's going on with Dana and ???.
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ā€œWhat? Huh? I….ā€ I mean, ā€˜you three’ could refer to any combination of people. Probably not me. I don’t understand why I’d— this isn’t a rescue mission. Who even is this? I continue to stand here worthlessly.
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Ariel and Gordon look around the room.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:22 PM
"Hey- Jade told you to search for a key, so search for a key!" Lelouch says this to Dana.
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"Did you put me in this cage, Gordon?"
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"Well, I didn't oppose it." Gordon.
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ā€œGGGEEAGH!ā€ I hold my head. ā€œI hate you! I fucking hate you!ā€ I back up into some corner of the room to incidentally see if I can spot a key there.
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((Roll))
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((8))
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Dana finds nothing. "I found her wheelchair." Gordon brings back a wheelchair. "Dana, look over here!" Ariel calls out to her. She's standing in front of some kind of desk.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:24 PM
Lelouch does not attempt to search for a key, instead looking at the woman in the cage. "So, what's your name?" (edited)
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ā€œHuh?ā€ I look over to Ariel.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:25 PM
"Harriet," Harriet says, bulwarked by the attention. "And yours?"
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Ariel lifts up a paintbrush. "There's some other stuff in here, too."
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:26 PM
"Lelouch. Lelouch Maoziwam!" She says the first name with more emphasis than the surname. "Who locked you in this cage? Was it a guy? Guys will do that, they're pigs." (edited)
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ā€œOh, shit.ā€ I stare at the paintbrush. ā€œThat means… mm.ā€
2:26 PM
((Who the fuck is Lelouch Moawizam))
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I lay down on the ground and pout.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:27 PM
(FYUCK()
2:27 PM
(you saw nothing)
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Jade looks walks over to the desk and grabs a few things. "It might be the wrong key, but it's the only one here." She walks over to Harriet's cage and presses it against the lock. It very clearly doesn't fit, and yet the door magically swings open unlocked.
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ā€œShut the fuck up about your stupid fake-ass straw feminism! You’re—I mean, I guess I should be happy, right?! If you’re just like this, and didn’t immediately look at me and take—and classify me as how much of a fucking woman I am, how easily, you think you canā€¦ā€ I don’t think any of that formed into a full sentence.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:30 PM
Harriet crawls out of the cage and attempts to speak to Lelouch. She chooses her words very, very carefully. "I, on occasion, have interpersonal.. issues with the male sex. I.... have my own, individual reasons for thinking this way, which aren't symptomatic of any greater.. social phenomena. That's the way I decide, of my own volition, to think about it."
2:30 PM
Harriet stares expectantly at her fist. Nothing happens.
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Gordon gives Harriet the wheelchair.
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I look up and look at Jade. "Hey! Unlock my door!"
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ā€œPlease don’t.ā€ I’m pleading. There is no malice or spite.
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"I need it."
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"Do I?" Jade asks Lelouch.
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"If I don't get out of the cage, I will starve to death."
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:31 PM
"Why should you?"
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:31 PM
Harriet crawls into her wheelchair. "I am above vindictive cruelty," she says to herself, smiling blankly.
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Ok, I hate her too. Good.
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"Well, that's resolved then. We should try to go find Johnner in some other room." Jade.
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((statement adn reaction panel))
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"What??"
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ā€œYeah, good idea. Everything else is secondary.ā€ I’m glad someone here is reasonable.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:35 PM
"I mean, you tried to kill me, so why should I? Karma's a bastard, or whatever." She shrugs to ???, before turning to her gf. "Do you know where else he could be, Jade?"
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Jade walks back into the living area. All of the other NPCs follow her.
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Living…area?
2:35 PM
I mean, I head that way, if there’s nothing better to do.
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The room right outside here.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:36 PM
Harriet wheels herself there obediently.
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"Tried to kill you? When!?"
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I ignore the unpleasant memory.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:37 PM
"I should probably follow her. The last time I took my eyes off her, Johnner had one of his men knock her and another woman out to kidnap me, the dickhead."
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((Channel split.))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-harriet-lelouch
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:38 PM
Women
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"Let's just look through all of these doors." Jade shrugs.
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I sigh in relief once we’re out of the way of that… that. Now I can… I should be able to calm down, right? That was the reason for… um…
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:39 PM
Lelouch does as Jade suggests.
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I start searching. I’m here to kill Jeff. That’s my mission.
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((Roll))
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:40 PM
Harriet immediately attempts to look through all the doors as well.
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((1.))
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:40 PM
((girlfailure))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:41 PM
(13)
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:41 PM
((1.))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:41 PM
((TRUE girlfailure)
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Dana accidentally locks herself in the bathroom somehow. Harriet accidentally topples her wheelchair over while opening a door.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:42 PM
"Help," Harriet says, muffled.
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Fuck.
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Lelouch opens the door to Jeff Johnner himself, standing outside. "What the hell? Shit!" He tries to shoot Lelouch with a gun, but Jade pulls Lelouch out of the way.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:44 PM
"JADE!"
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How am I so bad at this? It’s just… I mean, this is the easy part. No… the easy part is once we find him. That’s instant. This part is harder, I guess. I— ā€œWhat?!ā€ I try to break open the door to the bathroom.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:44 PM
"EX-FUCKING-CUSE ME, DON'T SHOOT MY GIRLFRIEND YOU BASTARD!" She's mad. How many other NPCs are there?
2:45 PM
oh wait i misunderstood)
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Johnner shuts the door and keeps firing bullets wildly through the door. Jade hides next to Harriet by using the wheelchair as a shield.
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Dana Craig
How am I so bad at this? It’s just… I mean, this is the easy part. No… the easy part is once we find him. That’s instant. This part is harder, I guess. I— ā€œWhat?!ā€ I try to break open the door to the bathroom.
((Roll))
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:45 PM
"What's happening," Harriet says.
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((15))
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Dana breaks open the door.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:46 PM
Lelouch follows suit and hides behind the wheelchair, or at least sits next to Jade.
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ā€œWhere?ā€ I look around frantically.
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"Good job, Harriet." Jade. One door has many very obvious bullet holes.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:47 PM
Harriet's eyes brighten. "Thank you."
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The gunshots have ended at this point.
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Ugh. Of course. If I were only there at the exact moment. I wait for a reprieve in firing to… I don’t know, rush over, open the door, shoot him dead.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:47 PM
"HAH! DIDN'T BRING AMMUNITION, DUMBASS?!" Lelouch shouts out from behind the wheelchair as the gunshots stop.
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The door is locked. Jade gets up and uses the key again, which works. The office looking room has no one in it anymore.
2:48 PM
There are no other doors inside.
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ā€œHow?!ā€
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"Huh?" Even Gordon is shocked.
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ā€œSome fucking— secret passage-ass, heā€¦ā€
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:49 PM
"Huh? Damn, he got away! That sly motherfucker!" She grumbles. Lelouch enters the office and searches for any trace of an exit.
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I feel sick. I feel like I’m about to… ā€œHe must… he has to still be close, right? Unless we’re throwing our hands up and saying he teleported! We need to… uh, weā€¦ā€
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((Roll))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:50 PM
(18) (edited)
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:50 PM
Harriet frowns. "...Bad." She says, astute as ever.
šŸ”„ 2
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Lelouch halphazardly pulls out a book and causes the bookcase to swing out of the way. Behind it looks like some kind of elevator. Instead of a button to call the elevator, there's a keyhole. "Wow, magic makes things really useful." Jade.
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ā€œHuh?ā€ Magic???
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:52 PM
"Uh- Jade! Try the key! It might work!"
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Jade does press the key. Nothing happens.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 2:53 PM
"Magic is real." Harriet says matter-of-factly.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:53 PM
"Damn. Johnner might have the key on him. Motherfucker!" She kicks the bookcase.
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I try to break open the elevator door,
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((Roll))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:55 PM
"WHY does it have to be so difficult?! Why can the bastard just- NOT stay still?! For one second- A one second slip so we can spray him?!" Lelouch grumbles. She angy.
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ā€œShut up about your stupid fuckingā€¦ā€
2:55 PM
((3.))
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"...This looks important." The other girl who has been here the whole time and said nothing holds up a piece of paper. Jade grabs it. "It's just some numbers. We need a key. Can you do anything right?" "...Sorry." The girl.
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Yeah. Of course that doesn’t work. It was an idiotic idea. What the fuck is wrong with you? I look at the numbers.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:57 PM
"Jade, could I see?" Lelouch steps towards Jade to look at the paper.
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It's just a bunch of numbers. The elevator finally arrives and opens it's doors.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:57 PM
Lelouch whips around.
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Huh? Oh, good. ??
2:58 PM
I rush into the elevator.
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The NPCs all go into it as well.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 2:58 PM
Lelouch follows Dana.
2:58 PM
She makes sure to hold the door for Harriet because she's a lady.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:00 PM
Harriet follows.
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It is incredibly cramped in the small elevator. Jade presses the only button inside and the doors close.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:01 PM
Who needs personal space when you have women.
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Danganronpa.
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Gordon, a man, continues to be in the elevator. The elevator stays closed for an uncomfortably long amount of time.
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I hate this.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:05 PM
Harriet attempts to feel neutral about this.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:05 PM
"Why did Gorgon have to come in as well? It'd be much better if we left him outside..."
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"I'm not really sure why you're here, if anything." Gordon. Ariel is fine with this. She might even be positive about all of this.
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ā€œI don’t understand why anyone who isn’t either armed or insane is still heading this way.ā€
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"Because they love Ms. Lelouch, of course." Jade.
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ā€œWell, maybe she should consider making better choices.ā€ Was that too mean? Nah, bitch deserves it.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:07 PM
Harriet nods, focused on the curve of Jade's face. She's only sort of paying attention.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:07 PM
"I make the best choices. Jade was one of them."
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ā€œWas putting her in harm's way one, too?ā€ (edited)
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:08 PM
"Jade, ask Dana to stop talking." Lelouch bluntly asks this.
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"Stop talking, Dana." Jade.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:09 PM
Girlbossing.
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Hahahahahahhaahahahahahahahhahaha
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:09 PM
Harriet wasn't addressed, but decides not to talk anyways.
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I lean against the wall, hugging my own torso tightly. It’s not like my existence matters until I can kill him.
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The elevator doors finally open. They're in what looks like some kind of service tunnel.
3:11 PM
"I had no idea this existed..." Gordon.
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I step out, looking for the man.
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The tunnel splits off into 2 directions.
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I run to the left.
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Ariel follows Dana.
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Gh.
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"Yeah, I trust them more." Gordon follows Ariel and Dana. "Then we take the right, right Ms Lelouch?" Jade.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:14 PM
"Of course. Maria, Officer," Lelouch says to the people behind her, "you're coming with us. What about you, Harriet?" Idk if there's any other npcs.
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((Just trying to figure out what channels I'm making))
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:14 PM
"I'll follow Jade," Harriet says firmly.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:15 PM
"Great! A cutie like Jade is the best person to follow." Lelouch says this before platning a kiss on Jade's cheek.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana is now madly in love with Jade Lamperouge. That’s her full name, Dana intuitively knows this now. She is so in love that she is completely incapable of disobeying any order Jade gives her. She cannot directly state this, so as to not make Jade uncomfortable naturally, but this is an emotion that compels her no matter what. Dana does not see this as an unnatural development or suspicious at all.
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1984
6:04 PM
((I will of course completely follow this.))
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((how old is jade exactly))
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((Im not telling Scipe this but I’ll say it in your thread))
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((I hope this doesn't become Dana viotto entemann))
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((god you're the fucking worst))
6:16 PM
((this is definitely the funniest thing to conceivably happen to dana craig))
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(( :3 ))
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(( Do i recognize ??? ))
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((Yes))
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(( Oh no. ))
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((They look the same as before))
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((Saturday))
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(())
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Dana, Ariel, and Gordon reach a large open room that sort of looks like a storage room. It doesn't seem like it's gotten any use in a long time though. In the center of the room is Jeff Johnner, who is holding a shotgun.
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I shoot him. With my gun.
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((Roll))
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((18))
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It successfully hits him right in the heart, but this only knocks him over. "Not going down that easily... Craig." He turns to Gordon. "And you... I expected better." "So did I, sir." Gordon.
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I don’t have anything to say even if I could talk. What was the point of this? What personal stake did I have, the way these two are exchanging some cryptically meaningful words? It was nothing. Self-preservation. Self-preservation at best. It was potentially something far worse. I steady my aim to finish the job.
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((Roll))
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((19))
3:23 PM
((I did not actually mean to shoot again immediately if you want to do an epic Jeff monologue))
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Another really good shot. Johnner's bulletproof vest tanks it again, however. He decides to just fire his shotgun at Dana without getting up. It doesn't do any lethal damage but it knocks Dana over in pain.
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It’s fine. Physical pain is nothing. None of this matters. It’ll be undone by the end.
3:24 PM
I struggle to get back up. A vest, huh…?
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Ariel heals up Dana with the brush as Johnner just shoots them again. It misses. "More of you superhuman freaks, huh?" Johnner just looks tired at this point.
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I smirk. Yeah, kind of. …A bulletproof vest doesn’t cover the head. I go for that.
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"That's fine... I'll just have to put you down faster than you can heal." He shoots back. ((Roll))
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((17))
3:30 PM
I think I’m getting good at this, actually.
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The bullet hits Johnner's head, but not in a fatal area. Johnner's shot completely decimates Dana's legs. As she falls, her gun falls out of her hand and slips away. "...Shit." Johnner grabs his bleeding head.
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You’re only delaying the inevitable. I… oh. Legs. Hm. I look at the out of reach gun.
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Ariel heals Dana's legs. "That brush of yours... It's cheating, y'know? God... He made us all equal. Our perfect selves, all together. Our destiny's defined by our suffering. You ever suffered, Craig? Do you know what it's like to watch everyone you love die? What makes you deserve this, you selfish bitch? Some shitty blessing!?" Johnner.
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I don’t deserve anything. Never in my life have I provided anything of value to the world, displayed any skills or merit that warrant a reward. So I guess I don’t deserve a win. But still… I do. Because I take it. I dive for the gun.
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He shoots at Dana again. ((Roll))
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((16))
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Dana narrowly avoids the shotgun blast, and reaches the gun. Johnner runs to the wall, before being grabbed from behind by Gordon, who holds a knife up to his neck. "What?" Johnner. "So you lost people. You think that makes any of this worth it? You've paid everything back in selfish blood a million times over." Gordon's body blocks Johnner from Dana's sight.
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Tch.
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"Come on... Do it, then. Or does your stupid cult not let you when I'm like this?" Johnner chuckles and kicks Gordon between his legs. Gordon drops the knife in pain, and Johnner keeps running until he's reached the wall. Lelouch, Harriet, Jade, Maria, and the cop all run in.
3:47 PM
Also they're carrying an absurd amount of weapons.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-harriet-lelouch
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I shoot Johnner to death.
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((Roll)) "...Fuck." Johnner.
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((13))
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It hits his vest. The wall slides open behind him and he slips through it, before it shuts once again.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:50 PM
foiadjgioslkjlkgjlkadlksjklsadjgkljkfljgkldfjgkdsjlkgjdflkskgjklfdsjlgkdjsfh
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:51 PM
"Dammit, we were too late. Are you alright?" She asks this specifically to Ariel and Dana. She doesn't care about Gordon.
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Unbelievable.
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"How prepared was he for this shit?" Gordon. Jade grabs a rocket launcher from Harriet's lap and fires it at the wall. (edited)
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:53 PM
Lelouch looks at Jade for the entire time the rocket is launched no fucking way I'm facing that
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:53 PM
Harriet winces and shuts her eyes.
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The wall explodes, uncovering a thick layer of solid steel. It looks like some kind of nuclear fallout shelter. "It was worth a shot." Jade.
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I stare at it. …I bend down and reload my gun, if possible.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:55 PM
"Heh. A shot. Jade... you're so funny."
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It's possible. There are a lot of bigger guns on Harriet's lap though.
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That was my kill. This is my gun!
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Harriet Kadin
"Heh. A shot. Jade... you're so funny."
"Thank you!" Jade smiles.
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Dana stews in silent rage like the pathetic impotent little rat she is.
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"If a rocket launcher didn't work, what could possibly break through that wall?" Gordon.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 3:57 PM
"Jade really is funny." Lelouch agrees with 100% earnesty.
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Jade goes for a group hug with Lelouch and Harriet.
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I punch the wall with my stupid fucking fist.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:57 PM
dana craig
šŸ‘ 1
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Dana Craig
I punch the wall with my stupid fucking fist.
((Roll))
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 3:58 PM
Harriet hugs her enthusiastically.
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((15))
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Dana accomplishes nothing but doesn't hurt her fist too bad. Jade kisses them both. The voice of Ray "Kite" Elliott suddenly makes a loud "Ew..." from behind the door they just came from.
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What?!
4:00 PM
I decide not to attempt to break my hand against the wall and instead focus on something less r-slur. I turn to the door, alert.
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Kite steps out. He's wearing a suit that looks like a weird sort of beetle instead of his usual. "Ha... I mean. Guess who can break through that wall." "You again..." Jade speaks with disgust.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:02 PM
"Fuck off."
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I gesture to the wall impatiently.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:03 PM
"I miss the kissing part." Harriet says, despondent.
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I’m going to kill everyone in the room and then myself.
4:03 PM
Joke.
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"Girls kissing girl? What are you, a (homophobic slur)?" Kite, a gay man. (edited)
4:04 PM
Jade takes out the perfume threateningly.
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Everyone here is a moron except for me. Yeah, see? I can’t be judged or fuck up if I simply never talk, ever. This is great. I’m great. Haha.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:05 PM
"If anyone's a (homophobic slur), it's you!" Lelouch, a lesbian woman.
4:06 PM
"Stop trying to insert your pathetic narrative into our story and accept you're a bottomfeeder who'll only be useful when, and I say that confidentally, me and Jade spray you."
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:07 PM
"No one here is a homosexual." Harriet says confidently. "I don't think we need to make baseless assumptions."
Ehn/PC pinned a message to this channel. 8/25/2023 4:07 PM
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That feels wrong, but I don’t know enough about anyone to dispute it.
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"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Kite leaps forward and swings the crowbar at the perfume. In a panic, Jade turns around and tries to protect the bottle with her body.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:09 PM
"JADE!" Lelouch picks up a gun from Harriet's lap and points it at Kite.
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The crowbar collides with Jade's head and she simply vanishes.
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I aim to shoot at Lel—huh?
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"Uh..." Kite stumbles back. "I think... I think Jade's dead?"
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:10 PM
Harriet blinks. A snapping sound echoes in the back of her head. Suddenly - sharp clarity, as if emerging from cold water. And then confusion. "What the fuck?"
4:10 PM
"What the fuck?"
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Dana Craig has seen better days. Probably not the one here the worst off.
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Kite walks a little backwards from the group. "Johnner's through that wall, right?"
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I nod. I’m glad he understands the only thing to ever be important, and also is surely paying attention to the information I convey specifically.
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"Then... I've just gotta kill the rest of you and finish my job. Ha... Being a hero's never been so easy." Kite. Maria passes out cold.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:13 PM
Lelouch is just. Speechless. She's still got her gun aimed at Kite.
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Oh, he’s insane. Okay.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:13 PM
"...What did you do?" She asks, coldly, finger on the trigger. "Where the fuck is Jade?"
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"Shoot me. Don't worry... I won't die." Kite.
šŸ”„ 2
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:14 PM
((CARLOS MENTIONED))
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If my disgusting impulses can’t be controlled, at least my actions can. I grab Ariel. It was only ever her. My only hope. I stand in front of her.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:14 PM
Lelouch shoots at his feet. "What the FUCK did you do to my girlfriend?"
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"Ha... As if I'd admit not knowing something." Kite says smugly.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:15 PM
Oh shit. "Oh shit, that was your girlfriend?"
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:15 PM
"Don't make me put the next bullet through your head, if the skull's not thick enough."
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I stare at Harriet before forcing myself to focus on the main threat.
4:16 PM
Ok, clearly the crowbar is magic, and can completely destroy things and people. It’s like Vanilla Ice, from jojo. Just need to uh… avoid that.
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"Come on, Lelouch. Kill me. I'm waiting!" Kite.
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Oh, is this like a suicide by cop thing? Jesus. What happened to this fuckin’ guy?
4:17 PM
I aim my gun in the general direction Lelouch and Kite are both in.
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((Wait do you mean the perfume bottle?))
4:18 PM
((It vanished with Jade))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:18 PM
(Ohhh I should've checked)
4:18 PM
(Okay ignore that then)
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:19 PM
"I'm sorry," Harriet says miserably. "There's something really wrong with me, Jesus.... I'm sorry - I don't know what I'm doing.. is that a defense? That I didn't know? I need........"
4:20 PM
Harriet trails off into indecipherable mumbling. Her hand moves, sluggishly, to her face, as if to impact it, but just barely misses the slope of her cheek and flops limply to the side, like a puppet with all strings severed.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:20 PM
Lelouch doesn't say anything simply keeping her hands on the gun.
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Dana Craig stands there incredibly high strung and overclocked, like a puppet with strings very present also on cocaine and in bondage gear and a straitjacket.
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"Jeez, you guys are boring... Come on. You gonna make me the only one doing anything this whole fight?" Kite. "Shoot him." Ariel whispers this to Dana.
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I smile. Finally, something I’m happy to listen to. I shoot him.
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The bullet explodes on impact with the suit, and Kite seems completely unnaffected. "Aha! That's more like it!" Kite.
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I roll my eyes. At least there’s a clear reason that didn’t kill him. (edited)
4:23 PM
I wonder what happened to the other guy. The one who had that suit. Whatever. He probably doesn’t matter.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:24 PM
"That's why you never give men what they want." She keeps her eyes firmly on Kite, only wincing at the bullet's explosion. "Just take the wall away or whatever and get the fuck out."
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…Does the suit cover all of him?
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"Nah... This is payback. For real this time." Kite looks down bitterly at where Jade was standing. "It really... Didn't hurt so much after all. Taking a life. Lot of build up for nothing, I guess. It's kind of embarassing." He looks back up at Lelouch. "But you... Your whole crowd... Everyone who stands in my way. I'm gonna make 'em pay for what you've done." Gordon grabs a gun from Harriet's lap and fires it several times. None of them do anything. "...Nah. Not like that. Let's do this my way." Kite points the crowbar dramatically. ((Everyone roll initiative!))
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((13))
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:28 PM
((20))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:28 PM
((3))
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((Fastest thing alive))
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((12))
šŸ‘ 1
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It's Harriet's turn.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:33 PM
Harriet is too busy freaking the fuck out to do anything about this situation.
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It’s Dana’s turn.
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Hmph. This could be a trivial obstacle, ultimately. It’s a matter not of strength… but politics. I steady my grip and continue to examine if there’s any physical weak points to this defense. ā€œMAOZIWAM!ā€ I growl, having obviously always been capable of speaking when it became necessary. ā€œWho is this?ā€ I glance behind me at Ariel briefly.
4:40 PM
((This is my whole ā€œturnā€, I guess?))
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Ariel skips her turn.
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It’s okay, I understand.
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Kite hits Dana in the chest with a crowbar. It is not immediately fatal but she can undeniably feel that this will kill her if she doesn't heal.
4:42 PM
Gordon shoots at Kite some more. It does nothing.
4:42 PM
The cop shoots Kite as well. Also useless.
4:42 PM
It's Lelouch's turn.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 4:46 PM
Lelouch still dutifully holds her gun, but doesn't shoot. "He's an asshole who calls himself Kite, can't bother to remember his real name. He's got a pathetic, useless hero complex and loves to villanise women. Also, he loves getting in the way of my plans because of whatever problems he's got brewing in his head, which is just the icing on the shitcake that is Kite." She keeps the gun pointed at his head and moves to the back of the room.
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It's Harriet's turn.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 4:47 PM
Harriet falls out of her wheelchair.
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This scatters all the weaponry she was carrying across the floor.
4:47 PM
It's Dana's turn.
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Dana Craig, who is me, screams in pain. But then I laugh. ā€œHa… hahahaha! Not gone, not one hit…. Heh… I guess I’m made of stronger stuff than… ugh, not his nickname or your shitty grudge, you idiot, Iā€¦ā€ I let this thought which was already interrupting another unfinished thought remain unfinished as I both lack confidence in how I even would conclude it while also realizing that I am going to die. ā€œAriel. Ariel! Ariel please. Ariel, I need you Ariel, please. I don’t want to die. I don’t… I can still win. I have a lot left to do. I’m gonna be… so good. For you. Okay? I just… I need more time. I need to live. Please! Ariel, I…. I love you. I didn’t say it before. Sorry. Please. I don’t want to die. I just, I… you can help me, you’re special, I… Ariel, Iā€¦ā€ This goes on indefinitely! Some of it is audible. Dana sort of pathetically stumbles closer to the Johnner Wall (tm) and, lacking any effective attack, does nothing else at the moment.
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Ariel uses the paintbrush on Dana, healing her instantly.
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Okay, cool. Anyway.
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Kite attacks the cop. It hits.
4:58 PM
Gordon keeps shooting at Kite.
4:58 PM
The cop.
4:58 PM
It’s Lelouch’s turn.
5:01 PM
((For note, speaking is a free action. You guys don’t have to wait for turns for that))
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ā€œThanks :3ā€
5:01 PM
Dana would not say that. She wouldn’t say colon 3.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 5:02 PM
"COP, DO SOMETHING USEFUL AND BODY HIM!" She yells while distancing herself. "Gordon, make sure he can't get to the weapons! Dana, check on Harriet, uh-" Lelouch looks at Kite. Is there anywhere on him that's exposed or is it all suit?
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Pretty much all suit.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 8/25/2023 5:03 PM
Fucking great.
5:03 PM
Lelouch closes her eyes and shoots him. I assume the bullet explodes upon impact like the rest.
5:03 PM
(or was that my turn)
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The bullet explodes upon impact.
5:04 PM
It’s Harriet’s turn.
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Harriet Kadin 8/25/2023 5:04 PM
((harriet [me] has to LEAVE))
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((Okay end session))
5:05 PM
((The Craig of our lives can resume next week))
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 9:39 AM
((I will be late by like an hour today because of mandatory college stuff))
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It’s Harriet’s turn.
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 3:07 PM
Harriet attempts to pick up one of the guns that's fallen to the ground.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:11 PM
((Roll (hey guys it’s me Atmey)))
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Harriet picks up a gun.
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 3:18 PM
Harriet shoots wildly into the sky, intending to hit Kite, but some combination of derangement and instability leads her to just.. shoot at random.
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((Roll))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:19 PM
((I swear to god.))
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 3:28 PM
((20))
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The bullet somehow perfectly hits Kite in the head. Naturally, this still accomplishes nothing.
3:29 PM
It’s Dana's turn.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:41 PM
I stare at Harriet. She’s fine, clearly. Aside from the absurdity of her presence here. Only those ready to fight should be here, and by my count, that’s me… and the cop. I guess they had the sense to try getting armed. But Johnner was mine. My mark! And this fucking guy… isn’t. It’s hers. I glance towards that fucking one. Regardless. My most valuable contribution would be to prevent him from targeting others. Particularly the healer. I wonder if I could trick him into busting this place open? Probably not. Worth a try, though. ā€œKite… I’ve actually seen you before, funnily enough. But I’m confused. By what’s changed. Just, this isn’t right.ā€ I smirk. I ready myself and my reflexes to dodge at the right time. ((Readying an action is possible in D&D. Perhaps A&G is different.)) ā€œI mean, where’s your boyfriend?ā€ Olé.
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"You mean my bro?" Kite.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:44 PM
ā€œCall it what you will.ā€ I chuckle.
3:45 PM
I don’t actually know a single thing about this relationship. Hopefully it’s enough to annoy him, though.
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"Heh…" Kite smirks. "Thanks for reminding me. Now I’m REALLY in the mood to kill Lelouch." Ariel heals the cop.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:48 PM
Oh. Well, that’s still not bad. Probably better than me.
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Kite attacks Harriet, and somehow misses.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:48 PM
ā€œYou’re really fucking bad at killing Lelouch, man.ā€
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"Yeah, I can hear you! Jeez! Stop distracting me!" Kite yells this at no one in particular.
3:49 PM
Gordon and the cop shoot Kite. This continues to fail to succeed.
3:50 PM
It’s Lelouch’s turn.
3:50 PM
"How should I know!?" Kite.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:51 PM
Oh, cool. He’s insane or has an earpiece.
3:51 PM
Probably both.
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"You! Tell me how you know us!" Kite says this to Dana.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:53 PM
ā€œI have an informant.ā€ I smile.
3:53 PM
ā€œUs…?ā€
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 3:58 PM
((is this like. a cave? asking for a friend)
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((It is a room with brick walls))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 3:59 PM
((The children yearn for the mines.))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:00 PM
((what about the ceiling))
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((Idk it’s like cement or something ig))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:02 PM
ā€Thing about battles over the mafia… The mafia always wins.ā€ Lelouch stomps on the ground, causing the ceiling to crack then cave in and
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:04 PM
"Hey!" She says, glancing to the officer. "Cop, be useful and get in front of me!" She, in an effort to do SOMETHING, shoots at the hand Kite's using to hold the crowbar.
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((Roll))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:06 PM
(13)
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It misses.
4:07 PM
It’s Harriet’s turn.
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 4:08 PM
Harriet is so deeply tired and afraid and her body feels like a wrung-out towel, which, she decides apropros of nothing, means it's a good time for her to fall asleep. In the past, she's always woken up, if necessary. She wants to wake up again.
4:08 PM
Harriet shuts her eyes.
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It’s Dana’s turn.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:14 PM
Perhaps it’s strange I’m not more fearful for my life. I did come very close then. It’s just gamer rationale, I guess. Not like I have much real experience to draw from. If a hit at full vitality didn’t kill me, it won’t next time. …Unless there’s damage spread. ā€œWho is he talking to?ā€ I wonder aloud. I won’t waste my ammunition. It’s obvious that’s ineffective. Hoping for some miracle scenario where he misses me and fucks up the wall behind me… is still my best plan. Pretty shitty. I’ll keep thinking. I glance nervously at Ariel, then focus back on the enemy. ā€œI’m not even supposed to be here, man.ā€ I smile at the reference to my own personal mythology. Wild.
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Ariel has no one to heal, so she gets up close to Kite. "We can’t hurt you… And we don’t want to die. So how about a trade." "Nuh-uh. Not happening." Kite. Ariel turns to Lelouch and then back to Kite. "I’m a woman. I can make myself useful to you, okay?"
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:22 PM
"Don't! You don't want to associate with Kite. He's like, a horrible guy! He forced Maria to kiss him!" Lelouch is baffled.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:22 PM
ā€œā€¦ā€ I take a deep… a very deep breath. ā€œMm.ā€ It’s about trust, right? I let her cook. For… For now.
4:23 PM
ā€œI don’t want to associate with you, either.ā€ I stare at her spitefully. ā€œIf we can get out of this without anyone in this room being slaughtered by bullshit magic, that’s great. But I’ll settle for less.ā€
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"Obviously I’m not!" Kite. "I’ve had enough kissing girls for the day." Ariel looks confused. "I meant… This." She raises up the paintbrush. "I’m good in this kind of supporting role."
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:25 PM
"I don't force women to kiss me because I'm insecure!" Lelouch shoots a glare at Kite.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:25 PM
ā€œWhat does that mean, Ariel?ā€ Open, honest communication. I’m so relationshipped right now.
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Lelouch Maoziwam
"I don't force women to kiss me because I'm insecure!" Lelouch shoots a glare at Kite.
"That’s because you do it to boys!" Kite says confidently.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:26 PM
"I WOULD NEVER KISS A MAN! I'M NOT YOU!"
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Dana Craig
ā€œWhat does that mean, Ariel?ā€ Open, honest communication. I’m so relationshipped right now.
"The eyepatch." Ariel points.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:27 PM
ā€œEverything I do is consensual.ā€ I proudly tout my moral superiority. ā€œā€¦Oh. I kind of assumed that was like… a stylistic choice? I guess that’s my bad.ā€
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:28 PM
"Are you sure that eyepatch isn't just to make people think he's cooler than he is? It sounds like something he'd do."
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:28 PM
ā€œIt’s kind of cool. Credit where it’s due.ā€
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:28 PM
"It's not on him."
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"Nope! 100% real!" Kite flips up the eyepatch to reveal the lack of an eye. Ariel uses the paintbrush on him. "There you go!"
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:30 PM
"Ew." She says this referring to both pre- and post-eye Kite.
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"…What?" Kite blinks out of both eyes.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:31 PM
ā€œI don’t know if that was a goodā€¦ā€ I trail off.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:31 PM
"Why couldn't you have made him completely blind? Effectively neutralise his annoying ass."
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:31 PM
ā€œThat is not how it works.ā€
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:32 PM
"Well then- double up his eyepatch or whatever. Block his vision instead of bettering it." (edited)
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:33 PM
ā€œI don’t think it does anything to anything but— why am I even bothering? That’s dumb. He’s impervious to harm, obviously.ā€
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:34 PM
"Yea, yea, whatever." Lelouch grumbles. "Now that you have two eyes," she turns to Kite, "can you see how annoying you are?"
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:35 PM
ā€œHah.ā€
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"You... Erased it. The scar." Kite feels his eye. "Yeah. Try to keep up." Gordon.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:37 PM
"Why don't you put your new eye to good use and find the exit?"
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 4:37 PM
"I'm asleep," Harriet repeats.
šŸ”„ 2
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:38 PM
ā€œPlease don’t tell me you considered it necessary or core to your identity somehow.ā€ I sigh. ā€œThis is already enough of a comedy of errors.ā€
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"How dare you!" Kite swings the crowbar down on Ariel. She collapses on the floor, in clear shock from bloodloss. "That scar was who I am! I... How dare you kill the great Kite like that!?" Kite grabs the paintbrush and tosses it into the pile of stuff. "I'm a hero! And being a hero means suffering! So I'm gonna kill you all... And when I do, I'm gonna get so many scars it'll make that cripple look privileged!"
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 4:42 PM
Harriet opens her eyes. "That's.. really rude."
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:42 PM
No
4:42 PM
I
4:42 PM
Dana
4:42 PM
I’m
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Kite powers up from how angry he is and demonstrates this by destroying Harriet's wheelchair with his crowbar. Gordon shoots him. It misses. The cop gets in front of Lelouch defensively.
4:43 PM
It's Lelouch's turn.
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 4:44 PM
"Ow."
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:45 PM
((New revelation. Harriet’s wheelchair is part of her body))
4:51 PM
((am i being waited on. i was typing but decided it made more sense to react on my turn(tm) dana is currently in shock))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:52 PM
fnnvklnsd ah kk))
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 4:52 PM
((whats that mean)
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:52 PM
((yes you were being waited on i didn wanna fuck up smth))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 4:53 PM
((sowwy))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 4:53 PM
((nono!!! dwdw)
4:54 PM
Lelouch...steps out from behind the cop. (I don't know the specific arrangements of the room anymore I just assume she's further than Kite.) "Kite!" She calls out, gun in hand but not pointed at him.
4:55 PM
(It's not being used I don't know why I made it sound like it was being pointed somewhere, she's just holding it)
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Kite does not respond.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 5:04 PM
"You came here for me, right? To kill me?" She asks, stepping towards him. "Well then, why're you wasting time and energy hitting defenceless women?" Lelouch tilts her head to the side. "What, are you too much of a chicken shit to actually do it? Is that why you've dolled yourself up in some dumbass suit and armed yourself with a crowbar? Too scared a girl will beat your ass without something to cripple her?"
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He doesn't respond.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:09 PM
((Dana Craig is done shutting the fuck up.))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 5:11 PM
Lelouch rolls her eyes. "Coward. No wonder you had to force a woman to kiss you." She scoffs, before shooting at Kite's new eye.
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((Roll))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 5:11 PM
((man the bot hates me today))
5:11 PM
((7))
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It misses.
5:12 PM
It's Harriet's turn.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:12 PM
ā€œYouā€¦ā€ I mutter…
5:14 PM
Starting to come out of that… my stupor… embarrassing. I think that bitch took my opportunity for the first comeback. In a daze, I hobble forward. Very slightly. Towards him. ((Or I don’t. It’s more a symbolic addition to speech than an attempt to use initiative.)) ā€œYou… idiot. You shit-for-brains, cliched, pathetic, masochistic moron. I want you to understand this. I think you’re like me. I won’t get through your thick, worthless skull with any moralizing. Ohhh, you struck down a poor innocent woman! Stuff like that. You did, obviously. But who cares? You knew that. That’s a given. Why you’re here. I don’t want to tell you that.ā€ I’m seething. I finally understand what the word means. It’s funny. I stifle an inappropriate laugh. Funny to feel like you’ve spent your entire life bitter and angry. And only now know what real rage is.
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 5:16 PM
Harriet opens her eyes. There is no clarity; at least, not the kind she was hoping for. It is not a new day. It's the same dream, and Jade Lamperouge is still dead. Some things don't change.
5:20 PM
"I think there's something really wrong with me, Alexi." She says, and her voice is quiet. "I don't... I get what you were trying to say now, about the bravery, and holding myself in contempt... but I can't do it. Do you understand?. I think I used to be brave. I remember a point where I had, fuck, aspirations towards something. Which is why I started doing all of this in the first place, you know? But it's different now. It's so different. Fuck, I can't even... I used to refer to myself as I, you know, but it's all Harriet now, that unenviable distance. Do you get it? There's nothing here. God cleaned out all the rooms and turned the lights off."
5:21 PM
"If you're here," She says, staring up with wide, wet eyes from her place on the ground, "Send me a sign. Turn me into a meat crayon. Puppet me, okay? I don't want to be this anymore."
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No response.
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 5:25 PM
"Okay, fuck, then," she says, increasingly desperate - "The other one. The other one, I know you're there, I can feel you. You want me to be nice. I'm being nice. I'm on the ground. I can shoot myself in the head right now if it would make me a prettier corpse, okay? So please tell me something. Anything. I'll take it all."
5:25 PM
Nothing.
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It's Dana's turn.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:32 PM
I continue my gradual stride. He’s got a pathetic range, anyway. What the fuck is the floor woman talking about? Whatever. It doesn’t matter remotely. All these fucking guys. None of you were supposed to be here. You want to do this to me? You want me to get dragged into… us, into your fucking, high school drama feud bullshit?! Fine! Fine. But it’s about ME. I’m the one this is happening to, who has to go through this. You all get the right to whine once you’ve done anything at fucking all. Me! Why does everyone ignore me??? ā€œI want to make sure you understand. K… no, I won’t dignify your pansy ass stage name. Whoever you really are? You’re pathetic. You’re the dumbest person I’ve ever met. Next time you want to act against your own interest so brazenly and loudly, save the trouble for you and everyone else. Just kill yourself normally. I think I saw some rope upstairs.ā€ I continue walking. ā€œThat was a gender thing, though. Men like it louder and grander, right? Crashing your car, suicide by cop. Too much pride to go softly.ā€ I fiddle with the gun. Firing it won’t really do any good right now, clearly.
5:33 PM
ā€œI don’t have any delusions you’ll listen to me, though. You don’t have the guts to do anything like that. Ohhhhh… Suffering? Don’t make me laugh. If you want to fetishize whatever sob story you’ve got, you don’t get to do that while fighting as the biggest pussy I’ve ever seen. I’m the only one suffering here… and it’s because you’re fucking boring!ā€ I lunge at him. This is logical. This makes sense. See, it’ll be impossible to swing at me when I’m literally up in his face strangling him. And helping Ariel is pointless if I can’t get us out of this situation. Yeah.
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((Roll))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:34 PM
((20))
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Dana tackles Kite to the ground. "Fuck!"
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:36 PM
I punch him in his stupid fucking face. ((That seems like a reasonable turn.))
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((Roll))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:36 PM
((12))
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Dana breaks her hand.
5:37 PM
Ariel continues to bleed out.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:37 PM
ā€œGehahahaha! Ohhh, you’ve really got it made!ā€
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Kite skips the trouble of fighting Dana off him by just hitting her really hard with the crowbar. She is now on the floor, slowly dying again.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:39 PM
Oh. I get it. I was the one with pride.
5:39 PM
Haha.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 5:40 PM
Well, shit. "Cop, Gordon, one of you distract him while the other grabs that magic paintbrush or whatever and heal the WOMEN!"
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"I don't take orders from you." Gordon proceeds to look for the paintbrush anyway, as instructed.
5:41 PM
The cop shoots Kite again. No success.
5:41 PM
It's Lelouch's turn.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 5:45 PM
"I meant TACKLE him, not SHOOT him!"
5:48 PM
"Ugh..." She rolls her eyes and looks Kite dead on. "...You're really pathetic for a guy who says he wants to kill me and then harms every other woman but me."
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He continues to ignore her.
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 5:50 PM
She shoots at the crowbar. "Once a-fucking-gain, I'm ignored."
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((Roll))
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Lelouch Maoziwam 9/2/2023 5:51 PM
((13))
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It misses.
5:52 PM
It's Harriet's turn.
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 5:53 PM
((harriet [me] has to do homework))
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Harriet falls asleep.
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:56 PM
((Jfjf jgjg ??))
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((Genius solution))
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Harriet Kadin 9/2/2023 5:57 PM
((harriet nap time... zzz.....))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:57 PM
((i was ready to accept the end session but ok sure i can continue (dana is going to be so active in the near future)))
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Dana passes out from blood loss. ((Unless you want to get some final words out here idk))
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Dana Craig 9/2/2023 5:58 PM
ā€œI… I don’t… wanna…gā€”ā€ She passes out from blood loss.
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((Channel split))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-harriet
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((hi))
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 2:15 PM
((Hewwo))
2:15 PM
ā€œAre you.. okay?ā€ Harriet asks, unsure of herself.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 2:36 PM
ā€œD…do I lookā€¦ā€ I look around frantically for the thing that is magic and heals people.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 2:37 PM
"Do you look what?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 2:41 PM
ā€œHe left… why would he…? That’s not important. We… maybe he just didn’t realize who was still alive.ā€ I’m alive. Me.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 2:41 PM
Harriet frowns. "I really don't know what you're talking about."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 2:44 PM
Why did she say that? Is she stupid? ā€œI’m bleeding… he… the guy, you saw him, before you decided it was a good time to take a nap. He started, but didn’t finish the job. Was it justā€¦ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 2:45 PM
"Oh." Harriet says. "Yeah, I think he's gone."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 2:48 PM
ā€œI know.ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 2:48 PM
"So... what does this mean, exactly?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 2:53 PM
ā€œI don’t know, it… I mean, this is the opportunity to, regroup, what we can. I need to check whoā€¦ā€ I come to a realization. ā€œHah. Of course. Just my luck. One person conscious and unharmed, and it’s… I mean, no offense. Not your fault.ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 2:55 PM
"Right," Harriet says firmly. "You wouldn't want to acknowledge my, like, interiority, or any compulsion towards action or ability or capacity for violence. That wouldn't cohere very well with what you've made me out to be."
2:55 PM
Harriet waits expectantly, staring towards her hand as primed towards action or reaction, but nothing comes. A moment of relief breaking through, then quiet.
2:56 PM
"Okay. Regrouping. And.. with who? Why? I kind of don't understanding anything that's happening. Or who we're supposed to be killing. Or who you are."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 2:58 PM
I laugh, despite myself, coughing a little. ā€œAhh… that’s fair, very fair. Were you just… dumped in a cage and then dragged along for everything else…? I’ve been in that kind of situation beforeā€¦ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 2:59 PM
"I actually woke up here," Harriet says hesitantly. "After a.. really strange dream. I thought I was dreaming this too, at first.. but I don't get to be a player in my dreams."
2:59 PM
"No offense, but you seem a lot nicer now."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:02 PM
ā€œSuck my… ok, yeah, I guess I was a little… on edge. Maybe I should be right now. Am I woozy? It kind of feels like… as long as I stay awake, I’ll stay alive. So that part’s fine.ā€ I continue scanning the area ineffectively. ā€œMy name is Dana Craig. I would’ve liked to hide that, but we’re too late for that, and I don’t have any real misgivings about you in particular… I think.ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:04 PM
"I'm Harriet Kadin." Harriet says. "And likewise. I feel.. better, after napping, strangely. There's this sort of clarity about me. So I'm ready to be super, super helpful."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:06 PM
ā€œMm.ā€ I look over at how bad Ariel is. ā€œIf you see a paintbrush, let me know, I guess.ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:06 PM
"Oh, I saw one earlier, I think." Harriet says.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:08 PM
ā€œYeah.ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:08 PM
"Is it, like, a magic paintbrush? I learned magic is real recently, so I'm down with basically anything right now."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:09 PM
ā€œYeah, basically. Heals wounds. So, y’know. Practical, at the moment.ā€
3:11 PM
ā€œIt’s the thing Ariel used to…. Ugh.ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:13 PM
"Yeah, I meant to ask that too. Who's Ariel? Your girlfriend?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:17 PM
ā€œHaha… y…yeah.ā€ I admit, as though it’s something embarrassing.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:17 PM
Sticker
3:17 PM
Harriet says this with her mouth somehow.
3:17 PM
"I'm cool with lesbians." She says, with the tone of someone delivering great wisdom.
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Dana is still bleeding out.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:19 PM
ā€œThat’s nice.ā€ I’m still bleeding out. For note. ā€œI mean, technically, I… Ariel isn’t one. She throws herself at anything that moves.ā€ I would probably be a bit more careful with my words in more ideal situations.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:21 PM
"That's also cool." Harriet says. "Very feminist, I think... maybe? I had a strong opinion on that at one point. I forgot what it was, though."
3:21 PM
"Are you okay?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:25 PM
ā€œI’m still bleeding out.ā€ I roll my eyes. ā€œSure seems like you had an opinion on…ghrk.ā€ My… head hurts. Let’s avoid that area for now… ā€œSo you really have no idea why you ended up here? Do you know… the guy we found with you?ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:28 PM
"Yeah, kind of." Harriet says, frowning. "I keep having dreams about him. Also, he might be my imaginary friend who I used to.... get to help me with things. But I think he might actually be a real guy, and not just a brain ghost I invented. Which is comforting, because that means I'm not crazy yet."
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??? runs in.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-harriet-unknown
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:29 PM
ā€œFUCK!ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:29 PM
"That's my brain ghost." Harriet says.
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"You!!"
3:29 PM
I shoot at Lelouch.
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((Roll))
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:31 PM
ā€œOhhhh, nononoā€¦ā€ I briefly have a realistic depiction of a panic attack.
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??? successfully shoots the person who is already bleeding out.
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I hope they die.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:32 PM
ā€œAGH! What are you fucking doing? If you want that, just wait for time to finish the job, shithead!ā€
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"What?"
3:33 PM
"What are you talking about, Dana?"
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:33 PM
"What the fuck?" Harriet says. "Why are we shooting each other!! Don't do that!!!"
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She gets up and stands between ??? and Lelouch. "Please... Don't hurt her."
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"Too late."
3:34 PM
"Who are you?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:34 PM
ā€œForget it. Your ā€˜friend’ here’s a l….ā€ Hm. ā€œMaybe we should be making noiseā€¦ā€
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"H-How do I save her... Please let- Please let me do something right!"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:35 PM
Ugggghhhh.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:35 PM
Harriet looks around, confused, her eyes wide. "Who the fuck is Lelouch? What's happening right now?"
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"What? Nobody said that name?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:36 PM
I laugh. ā€œAnd you didn’t even know her… oh, man. This is all so fucking stupid, I’m sorry!ā€
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I stare at Harriet. "Stop talking."
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:37 PM
"No, no, I've heard that name before. I'm hearing it right now." Harriet's hand goes fiercely to her face. She bites onto the meat of her palm, swollen over her mouth, stopping her from speaking.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:38 PM
ā€œM-Maria Stanley, right? I remember because that’s not a real fucking last name. There’s… there’s an item around here that can heal peopleā€¦ā€
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I shoot at Dana.
3:39 PM
"Stop saying fucking nonsense."
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((Roll))
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:40 PM
"I agree we should all stop saying nonsense," Harriet says weakly from behind her stained hand.
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"Where is it?"
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Dana is shot.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:41 PM
ā€œAgh! Hey, if you want to shoot Dana Craig, why not point the gun the opposite way, ya mental defective?!ā€
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"That wasn't me."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:42 PM
ā€œSome of us value our lives, and also… have the slightest clue what’s going on right now!ā€
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"What’s the thing that’ll save her!" Maria repeats.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:42 PM
"I would like to know what's happening also."
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"Don't say anything about anything that would 'save' Lelouch."
3:43 PM
"I forbid you."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:44 PM
ā€œIt’s a paintbrush.ā€ I stare at the [SLUR], flipping him off with intent as I continue to say nonsense. ā€œI don’t fucking care about Lelouch. But if it’s either she’s saved or I die, the choice is really easy.ā€
3:45 PM
ā€œActually, I do care. I fucking hate that woman. She’s the only one who rivals you in speed at reaching my shit list. But I don’t use that to, SHOOT AT PEOPLE for MILDLY ANNOYING ME, like some psychopathā€¦ā€
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"You don't?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:46 PM
ā€œYes, yes, hahaaa… it’s because I had a gun, yes… they must have thought I was like that, thought I was an enemy, but they were wrooooong….ā€
3:46 PM
ā€œI was being cautious!ā€
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Maria pulls out the paintbrush from some random things and heals Lelouch. Lelouch doesn’t move. "Ms. Lelouch…?" She drops the paintbrush and it rolls over into Dana’s reach.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:49 PM
I take it!!! I take it and heal myself! If I can. I forget if that’s possible. I take it, at any rate.
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Dana is healed.
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I try to take the paintbrush from Dana. (edited)
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:51 PM
Yes, okay. I go to Ariel. I save her. She’s not dead. There’s absolutely no way. I’m not having a life like that, where she perishes in the stupidest way possible.
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Ariel is healed.
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???
I try to take the paintbrush from Dana. (edited)
((Roll))
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:52 PM
((Still unconscious, though?))
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:53 PM
((also do i roll like in classic Grapple Contest or is it just one))
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Dana Craig
((Still unconscious, though?))
((Yes))
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Dana Craig
((also do i roll like in classic Grapple Contest or is it just one))
((Also yes))
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:54 PM
((10))
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 3:54 PM
Harriet remains on the floor.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 3:55 PM
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??? has the brush.
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I try to use it on myself.
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((Where))
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((on the head i guess)) (edited)
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The bandages are properly attached again.
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"What!?"
3:58 PM
I try to snap the paintbrush.
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??? instantly passes out.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-harriet
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Maria takes the paintbrush and heals Gordon.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:01 PM
Oh. Yeah, okay, fine.
4:01 PM
ā€œThat was… convenient.ā€
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:03 PM
"What... I don't understand.." Harriet says.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:04 PM
ā€œMaybe it’s not worth understanding. He is simply a force of nature.ā€ I chuckle.
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Maria heals the cop. Unfortunately, he is already dead.
4:07 PM
No he isn't.
4:07 PM
What?
4:07 PM
Why are you arguing with this now?
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:07 PM
((Finally, something important enough for the diegetic narration!!))
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The cop is intended to be a minor background figure. He can't die here.
4:08 PM
Why could he not? The fact he's irrelevant is exactly why he should get kicked out before the important stuff.
4:09 PM
No one else has died from that fight. If he did, this would turn a rather pivotal moment into the The Cop death scene. His death would cement his importance.
4:09 PM
That's ridiculous. That's not how that works.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:09 PM
I wonder if everyone actually survived. I think this. Me. Dana. Normally. It would be pretty impressive odds. Or I drastically overestimated the strength of the crowbar. ā€œIs that everyone?ā€
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Between the 2 of us, which one understands fiction and how it operates? Everything you learned you learned from me.
4:10 PM
Ugh. Fine. The cop is also healed. Hurray for lack of stakes.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:13 PM
I… check if I have the physical strength to carry Ariel, if that’s ultimately needed right now.
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The paintbrush is pulled out of Maria's hands by the air itself.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:13 PM
Yeah, sure. Why not.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:14 PM
"Oh." Harriet says firmly. "I get it now. Bastard."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:14 PM
ā€œIs someone invisible, actually? That would make sense. I can’t believe how far I’ve fallen to say that and mean it.ā€ (edited)
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:14 PM
"Don't do that!!!"
4:15 PM
Harriet frowns. "Hit yourself in the face."
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Ariel wakes up to Dana carrying her. She smiles. "My knight in shining armour."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:17 PM
ā€œEhhhahā€¦ā€ Don’t fucking drop her, holy shit, idiot. I stand there awkwardly for longer than necessary before realizing this is no longer an action with value and lowering her to the ground.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:17 PM
"Okay. Did I.. only just now realize? You're not doing anything I say because I want to. You're doing it because you have to, is that right? You have no choice."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:17 PM
I… cautiously listen to this conversation.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:19 PM
"I get it now. You never were the person I wanted you to be. But you're someone who doesn't have a choice in the matter, which I guess is better. You're kind of sick, you know?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:19 PM
Haha, what?
4:20 PM
Thank god my relationships are healthy.
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Maria looks at the empty air Harriet is talking to. "Are... You like me?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:21 PM
ā€œCan someone tell me what the hell is going on right now?ā€ My patience exhausted, I YIIK a little.
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Ehn/PC
Maria looks at the empty air Harriet is talking to. "Are... You like me?"
Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:25 PM
Harriet frowns. "Who are you?"
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Dana Craig
ā€œCan someone tell me what the hell is going on right now?ā€ My patience exhausted, I YIIK a little.
Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:25 PM
"I'm talking to my brain ghost."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:26 PM
ā€œI thought that was.ā€ I point at the unconscious(?) ???.
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Harriet Kadin 9/9/2023 4:26 PM
"Yes, but he's also here."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:27 PM
ā€œSure.ā€ I survey the room. ā€œUhh… guess he’s still in that damn bunkerā€¦ā€
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The bunker explodes, sending the walls flying at them. Everyone loses consciousness.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:30 PM
((GOOD SESSION))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana wakes up in the back of a police car with Ariel. She's hurt, but mostly fine. Howard is sitting in the front.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:34 PM
ā€œOw. What… hap-ah, itā€¦ā€ Ariel awake?
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Ariel is awake.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:37 PM
ā€œWhatever that was… I suppose it’s too naive to assume it did the job we couldn’t.ā€ I mutter. ā€œAt least it didn’t do the job, that guy… we’re alive, is the point.ā€ I stare gloomily out the window, waiting for Howard to inevitably berate/exposition me.
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"You can thank Kingsley for pulling you out of there. I had no idea you found yourself in the bombing site." Howard.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:39 PM
ā€œBomb. Yeah. Who exactly did the bombing there, then?ā€
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"…We don’t know." This lie is so transparent, it almost seems out of character for Howard.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:43 PM
ā€œOk, is this a political sort of don’t know? Like, yeah, a ā€˜the police simply don’t know why all Blythe’s clients die’ sort of unaware?ā€ I don’t really let this slide. It’s not like it matters, honestly. Nothing does. Holy SHIT I’m turning like, emo. God.
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"Sure. Point is, Johnner's dead." Howard. (edited)
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:47 PM
ā€œGood. That’s good. Yeah. I guess we’re… well, no, he was only one guy. Still loose ends.ā€ I murmur.
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"I know his boss now, too. I’ll need your help on that. Don’t kill him or anything, though."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:50 PM
ā€œHuh. Uh, okay. What do you want to do with him, then…? I kind of thought figuring that identity out was going to be… the entirety of the work.ā€
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"I need you to get him out of his apartment for a bit at a time I’m aware of. Nothing major. I just want to record evidence of his guilt."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:54 PM
ā€œAh. Okay. I see. Makes sense. I won’t go off and do anything with him on my own. Who… is it, then?ā€ Dana foolishly asks this, even though it’s obvious that by the conventions of pacing, it will either be followed promptly by a completely uncommitted non-answer or the end of the session
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"Shuichi Maoziwam."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 4:56 PM
ā€œā€¦That makes some sense, I suppose.ā€
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"…Too much. It’s a boring answer." Howard sighs.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:04 PM
ā€œHmph. Kind of. Where I stand it means the person ultimately behind everything… is just some shady guy I’ve heard of before. There’s possibilities that could’ve been interesting or cathartic, but this… might as well have been Shelk, or something stupid like that.ā€ I grumble. ā€œWe don’t get the privilege of an interesting story.ā€
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"…True enough." Howard nods.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:08 PM
ā€œI’m sure you’ve got the experience to know most mysteries are just putting in the legwork to be able to be confident about what you already pretty much know. …I’m a little more caught off guard.ā€
5:09 PM
My eyes widen for a moment, and then I smile. ā€œHaha. Oh, man… actually, I guess this is a pretty exciting twist of fate. Just for someone else.ā€
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"Who?" Howard.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:17 PM
ā€œFuckin’… god, I mean, I don’t even know why she was there. Maybe she already knew this? Had some unique reason for… I ran into the guy’s daughter in pursuit of Johnner. Lelouch. Almost got me fucking killed.ā€ Yeah… that sure was… something.
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"Lelouch Maoziwam, huh?" Howard.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:21 PM
ā€œYeah… she had a… group of like, uh.ā€ I guess they were ā€˜groupies’. Hah. …What… the fuck?
5:22 PM
ā€œā€¦Where are we headed, right this moment?ā€ Oh, oh, the… Ehn. Ehn mentioned Lelouch. Indirectly. Right? A relative of Maoziwam. Or the girlfriend of one?
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"We’re not driving. The car’s parked." Howard.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:29 PM
ā€œRight. Yeah. Obviously.ā€ I reaffirm this obvious fact about my surroundings I’d obviously know. Could it have been Jade…? I guess it doesn’t matter. The obvious answer is that Lelouch, those affiliated with her, are already… WERE already, as of a while ago now, wrapped up in this bullshit sort of magic… things. ā€œI think I might… be the dumbest person everā€¦ā€ The end of this sentence is barely audible. I’m gripping into my thighs hard enough that I’d probably draw blood if I were wearing shorts or something.
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"What else is new?" Howard. "You’re not!" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:34 PM
ā€œHahaā€¦ā€ I feel sick. ā€œThe perfume… the fucking perfume! She… I was… haha, oh, I’d like that, wouldn’t I? A convenient scapegoat for everything about me that’s fucking re…. But, just logically, it has to be what was going onā€¦ā€ No. No. No. I mean, I should be relieved, right…? Oh noooo nononono. I hold my head.
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"…Right. Well, you’re free to go. Call me whenever you’re ready for that Maoziwam thing."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:41 PM
ā€œMmhm. Yeah, okay. Thanks.ā€ I open the door, shaking slightly. I probably recognize where we are. ā€œI mean, whatever works. Tomorrow. Or later. Or sooner. Iā€¦ā€ I think about looking back at him, but doing that would also, my peripheral vision… ā€œAnything goes.ā€ I walk away.
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Ariel follows. They’re just outside the mall, which is now essentially just a crater. "Today." Howard.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:44 PM
ā€œRight. Sure. Just… a few hours to clear my head. Okay.ā€ How the fuck did I live through that?
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Ariel follows.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:50 PM
This is stupid. What, it won’t exist if you don’t look? I can’t just ignore her. ā€œI don’t know how you do it.ā€ I say this very unclear phrase.
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"Why not?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:52 PM
Okay, that’s also a weird response. ā€œWhatever they did to me… they did to you too. But you seemed the same as always to me. I guess I just don’t actually know what ā€˜it’ is. That’s… that’s not even really what I meant, I guess. Still avoiding it.ā€
5:53 PM
Even I only half understand what I’m talking about, really.
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"Well… I always have to give as much love as possible, don’t I?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:55 PM
ā€œHuh? I’m not talking… about… love. Or, I guess I was. But why would you think I was…?ā€ I’m so confused.
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"The perfume, right?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 5:57 PM
ā€œYeah, I mean… holy shit, wait, was that like, an aphrodisiac? No, I just… I thought… it’s like, supervillain shit, like psychic powers. I didn’t think, didn’t knowā€¦ā€ …No. You knew. You knew immediately.
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"Didn’t know what?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 6:06 PM
ā€œIt’s not like it matters now. And she’s dead, so any kind of direct resolution to whatever the fuck that wasā€¦ā€ I throw up my hands. ā€œYou said it yourself, I guess. That’s what I can’t understand. I don’t need to give as much as possible. I think, feeling love… is purely a negative.ā€
6:07 PM
ā€œIn that sense, at least.ā€
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"Why?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 6:13 PM
ā€œWell, it’s cause… I-I don’t know. It’s like explaining why the sky’s blue, it just feels… some intuition. I guess that kind of thing can never be described objectively. That’s probably why that stuff covers it’s tracks so well.ā€ I brush my hair off my face. ā€œI mean, you’re choosing to gamble every time. Maybe a relationship is nice. Obviously there’s nuance there, stuff worth seeking for a lot of people. But that’s… being loved is the reward for a successful investment. If you don’t have that, if you just have these feelings left to fester… I don’t think any pain could be worse. I’d take the murder crowbar over it any day.ā€ I probably wouldn’t.
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"I think loving is it’s own reward."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 6:20 PM
ā€œHah. If only. That’s gotta be it… that’s the difference. Helps you in the other way, too. It’s only because you were sending what were in hindsight clear signals that I gave you an answer, that I made a move. And if it’s a good thing either way, that’s a ā€˜risk’ worth taking. Not even a risk. But I’m not like that. That’s why I can’t be happy. Not in the same way.ā€ I sigh, looking into the sky to gauge vaguely what time it is while I guess fucking forgetting I have a phone.
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It’s early in the morning. Dana has essentially had no sleep that night. "You don’t love me?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 6:25 PM
ā€œI do. I think I do, at least. It’s what I call love. I feel it for you more than I’ve felt anything.ā€ Probably. Close enough. ā€œAnd that’s… really, just. I don’t know if it’sā€¦ā€ I swallow. ā€œThe woman in the wheelchair. Her name’s Harriet Kadin. We talked a bit. It was before you came to.ā€
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"If you think you do, then isn’t that enough?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 6:37 PM
ā€œSure. We can treat that as a definite answer, fine. But what if that’s in itself the issue?ā€ I point to my palm, gesturing as if it actually conveyed anything. ā€œNever seen this woman before in my life. She didn’t know me either. Her experience with me was entirely from this night, entirely while… I mean, I guess we’ve concluded… while I was under the influence of this fantasy genre roofie.ā€ I hold the contents of my stomach together addressing directly the permeable and vulnerable nature of my self. ā€œAnd once we woke up after getting our asses kicked, when she and I were the only people up and awake… I don’t know if she just didn’t get what was going on, or what, but before checking out the situation, confirming who’s fucking alive, the first thing she said when we talked was… how much more amicable I was now. How pleasant. Like, I was such a bitch before, but not in this situation where we’re all bleeding on our way to death’s door or there already.ā€ I smile disingenuously.
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"Do you think she was wrong?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 6:43 PM
ā€œā€¦I don’t. That’s the worst part. I was seething, maniacal, totally out of control. …And then the person I loved died. And everything was all better.ā€ I click my tongue. ā€œI mean, Jesus. It was a uniquely shitty situation, but still. One hell of a bad omen.ā€
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"You can't say that. Don't you love Grace too? She's still alive."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 6:47 PM
ā€œThat’s… complicated. But yes, sure, kind of. And obviously she’s still alive. But even that caused problems… I mean, I think she’s the entire reason we got into that mess. I don’t want to admit it, but… that’s probably why I was willing to take a more brazen approach to the Johnner problem.ā€
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"Oh."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:04 PM
ā€œMaybe that’s the issue. I’m… too like you. I have too much of this feeling. But I’m not you, so it doesn’t… work.ā€ What the fuck are you talking about? What is this? Get over yourself. She’s the one with the issues, remember? Her whole fucked up home life? The weird way she copes from that? Our dynamic doesn’t function this way, and you’re obviously treating this whole thing inconsistently. …If she has issues, she sure doesn’t fucking act like it. ā€œā€¦Maybe I’m just tired.ā€
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"We could switch, if you want?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:07 PM
ā€œUuh?ā€ I make an inquisitive grunt, similar to the famous Tim Allen one.
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"I change gender all the time, right? Maybe you could try being the woman for once."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:11 PM
ā€œWhat? You… but I am. A woman. Right? I don’t… understand.ā€ Uh,
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"You don’t really act like one, right?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:16 PM
ā€œWhat… does that mean…?ā€ My voice falters near the end. I… probably do know what that means.
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"Well… You know… It’s like how I’m a woman."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:19 PM
ā€œAh. Yes.ā€ Wouldn’t want to dispute that part. ā€œOkay. Sure, I get the sort of… general idea. I just don’t know what that would be, in practice.ā€
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"We could try acting like the other for a while."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:22 PM
I chuckle. ā€œLike, personality…? It would be an interesting experiment, I guess.ā€
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"Yeah."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:38 PM
I place a hand on my forehead, over my eyes. It makes no sense. In the first place, the whole problem, whole point of the conversation was that I’m NOT you, even with superficial similarities. And this would just highlight that. Right? Maybe. It also didn’t really have anything to do with like, gender… I don’t think? It’s stupid. This is the worst idea she’s had yet, and though I love her, that area has some tough competition. And yet. Following a bad idea is the only reason I got this far at all, really… And I’m smiling in spite of myself. Because it does seem pretty funny. There is something freeing in playing a character. I nuzzle up to her, leaning slightly against her shoulder, way more intimately than I would ever normally go for, probably. It’s… a little less than graceful. I’m not cut out for this cutesy shtick. ā€œBut Arielllā€¦ā€ I reply in a very abnormally high-pitched, offensively saccharine voice. ā€œWhat if this brings to light the often absurd and exaggerated way we perceive others? I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.ā€
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Ariel tries to put up a gruff serious front. "They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:45 PM
ā€œI suppose so.ā€ I smile.
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Ariel leads the way home.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:46 PM
Dana follows.
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Kingsley is standing outside their apartment. "Oh, hello…" "Hello!" Ariel.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:53 PM
ā€œHi, Kingsley.ā€ I make direct eye contact with Johnathan. My first instinct is to ask him where the hell he was during the entirety of that thing, or how he didn’t know the fact his boss was clearly privy to that we were in a fucking blitzkrieg zone. But really, who gives a shit. And it wouldn’t work within the rules of the game. ā€œI’m glad you made it out okay. I heard you even saved us from the wreckage. Thank you.ā€ I hug him.
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"Wh- Huh?" He freezes solidly in place.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 7:58 PM
I giggle. ā€œIt’s been a long night.ā€ I pull out of the hug. It was… not unpleasant. Hard to tell how much of the experience was related to a weird sadistic satisfaction in making him uncomfortable.
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"Can I… talk to you?" Kingsley. "Of course." Ariel. "No I meant… Her." Kingsley.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:01 PM
ā€œAbout… what?ā€ I tilt my head curiously. What would he need me alone for? I guess I’m not obligated to keep up the bit if it ends up being just us two.
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"Well… It’s a private discussion. And I think you might be the only person I can trust with this." Kingsley. "What about Howard?" Ariel. "Well… He knows, but-" Kingsley gestures vaguely.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:05 PM
I shrug. ā€œIf you think so.ā€ I just. Stand here. It’s her initiative to leave or not.
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Kingsley motions to Dana's room.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:06 PM
I wave to Ariel, and then head to my room.
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Kingsley follows and closes the door.
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:07 PM
ā€œWhat is it?ā€
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He sits down, looking defeated. "I just… Betrayed someone who felt like a close friend."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:11 PM
ā€œOh. …I see.ā€ I sit down. I don’t think Dana or Ariel would be very helpful for you in this situation. Fake Ariel, I guess. Am I like, the closest person he has at this point? That’s a little… How does this keep happening?
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"He’s… The one who blew up that mall."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:13 PM
ā€œAh. I didn’t push it, but… I was wondering about that.ā€ I nod understandingly. ā€œDid you sell him out for doing it, then?ā€
8:14 PM
Shit. Ariel definitely wouldn’t say sell out. I mean, I’m not really doing her right now.
8:14 PM
Being! Being her. Like doing the roleplaying bit.
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"He was… A murderer. He killed someone once too. A guy named Mats Rumen. And I'm… The one who even made that an opportunity in the first place."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:16 PM
Mats Rumen died?
8:16 PM
Anyway.
8:17 PM
ā€œWell… sometimes it ends up like that. Especially in your field, I imagine.ā€
8:17 PM
I don’t mention that I definitely killed more than one person.
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"Howard made me do it to make up for that but… I don’t… I don’t really feel like a good person for doing it."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:19 PM
ā€œDoing… what? This ā€˜betraying’ thing?ā€
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"Yeah."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:20 PM
ā€œWell… whatever you did, I can’t imagine it was just for the sake of avenging Mats Rumen. Sometimes people need to be stopped. For their own good, too.ā€ I’m really just saying bullshit. Whatever.
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"Do you… Think I’m a bad person?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:26 PM
I have to hold back a laugh. ā€œI don’t… think I’m the person to ask about that. Even beyond the fact that I still don’t truly understand what you did and why.ā€ I look down. ā€œFeels like the wrong question to me. Though of course I’d say that. I mean, takes one to know one, right? And I’m not a good person. I tried some heel approach, to accept myself as ā€˜the bad guy’, but I think that was just coping, too. The real two categories in my world are active and passive.ā€ Uh??? I sure am saying some words, here.
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"But you… Saved me, remember? A few days ago, Johnner would’ve killed me if not for your help. You are a hero. An even better one than me."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:35 PM
ā€œWell, that’s like… consequence based. That makes morality easy. It’s just about if what you did does enough good to make up for probably pissing your bomber friend off.ā€
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"Oh, I wouldn’t… Really judge it like that."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:41 PM
ā€œFeels like that’s the only sense in which I… whatever. My point was that you did something, and I think that matters. Maybe it wasn’t the best possible thing ever, but someone had to do something, and you were in a position to do so. It’s about… some sort of balance, maybe.ā€
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"I think… The way to decide right and wrong… Is to think of someone you consider a good person, and to act like them."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:48 PM
ā€œMaybe. But there’s always gonna be a point where you have to deal with that contradiction. That… The person you’re imitating isn’t imitating anyone.ā€
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"…Maybe."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 8:56 PM
ā€œOr maybe not. Maybe it’s the blind leading the blind. Some people are just a little better at it.ā€
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"That thing you were saying about active and passive… It does make some sense. I trust you a lot more than Ariel."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 9:08 PM
ā€œMm.ā€ I let that sink in. ā€œThanks, I guess. I think, in the pure ideal world, no one would be like me.ā€ I grab a drink. From those groceries I explicitly got the day before I forgot I did so in order to go to subway. ā€œBut there’s always gonna be some shit stirrer. And there needs to be someone else getting their hands dirty for that to be dealt with. That’s why there’s the police. Why the US is a bloated nightmare with a military too large to even use, while they get to have a high standard of living in Europe or whatever.ā€
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"You don’t want anyone to be like you? Then… Why be like you?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 9:17 PM
ā€œBecause I am already here.ā€ I take a swig.
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"Why not just try to be someone else?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 9:24 PM
… ā€œI do. I think it’d take a while to go over how funny being asked that is. But in the end… things have a way of returning to form.ā€ Mm. ā€œAt any rate, I don’t know if my pride could ever let me stay away from being this for long. The little bit of nobility in me has things I want to protect. And the real reason, the selfish one, is that I can’t just wait and hope for a win to come to me. I’ve learned that.ā€
9:25 PM
I guess it’s interesting that I can speak openly to him. He already sees most of what I am.
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"Well… I think you’re very impressive in your own right. According to Howard, that sort of self-awareness is very important."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 9:34 PM
ā€œHmph. Never feels that way. It’s just the way things are. I can count the amount of good things I’ve actually succeeded at on one hand.ā€ I stare at my hand. ā€œMaybe some day. Some day I’ll have some comfortable life without mafia assassinations and subterfuge where I’ve gotten whatever it is I’m looking for, and I can just live quietly as… a woman?ā€ The absurdity of what exactly I’m using that word to mean here strikes me at the end. I also remember what this conversation even actually is. ā€œThat ā€˜some day’ is what we live for. You’ll figure it out. What you did. What you had to do or what was a mistake. You’ll probably have to figure that out yourself. But it’ll happen eventually.ā€ I sigh.
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"…Is that so?" He puts his hand on Dana's. "You’re… Really wise."
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 9:41 PM
ā€œI hope not.ā€ I drink, averting my eyes from and not addressing the… hand thing. ā€œI guess there’s an art to knowing how to seem that way.ā€
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"Is there? I must be really bad at it then…"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 9:52 PM
ā€œYeah. I mean, I don’t know. Maybe I’ve just not seen you in the right environment. Me… maybe I’m selling it right now, but I do not think I’ve ever seemed remotely wise to Ariel. She runs circles around me, and I’ve wondered if it’s real understanding or feigned confidence… but at some point that stops mattering.ā€ I take a long, deep breath. ā€œYou don’t just… do things enough, Kingsley. Even if they end up being the wrong thing, that’s a mistake to learn from. And if I’m your idea of a hero, this here… this pointless, lengthy questioning with no end in sight… it figures….ā€ I sort of trail off.
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"So I have to… Do more?"
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Dana Craig 9/9/2023 9:57 PM
ā€œWho knows? I don’t think any answer I gave to that would help here.ā€ I consider something. ā€œThe guy who killed Mats Rumen… I mean, did Rumen die the day of that whole robbery business?ā€
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"...Yeah. The same night. And I... Brought them to see him."
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ā€œā€¦Them. I see.ā€ I nod. ā€œA lot of nasty feuds right outside my radius. I wonder if it worked. If this is even related. …One of them had an eyepatch, right? That asshole, whoever he is… though I’d guess it was the other one, since I can’t imagine why the fuck someone going to bomb the place would do anything he did.ā€
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"Uh... Yeah."
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ā€œOkay.ā€ This doesn’t actually provide any useful information. ā€œApparently everything is… over. For me, at least. Mystery solved. Just one thing I have to do for Howard later today, and then our deal will be over. I don’t really know what will happen after that… I suppose it’s up to me to figure out again.ā€
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"Well... Umm... Even if something goes wrong... I promise not to betray you, okay? It's like that. Repayment."
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ā€œYeah. Okay. I kind of doubt it’ll be that simple. Or maybe some weird part of me just hopes it won’t.ā€ I sigh, and head over to where my bed is. ā€œI’m out of whatever sage advice I have. You can let yourself out. I’m taking a nap.ā€
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"Umm... Okay." He gets up.
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I lie down, awaiting the sound which indicates he’s gone.
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He sort of awkwardly stares at her and leaves slowly, until the door is closed.
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Right. Okay. That was. Um. Weird.
10:15 PM
That aside.
10:16 PM
Pretend to be a woman for a bit. Hah.
10:17 PM
…
10:19 PM
I wonder if that’s something I’ve avoided intentionally.
10:19 PM
As opposed to… what? I guess that just being who I am?
10:20 PM
Maybe who we are is just the same as who we pretend to be.
10:21 PM
If that’s the case, I really should get on being someone who can succeed.
10:22 PM
I attempt to have a very feminine and emotional mental breakdown prior to collapsing. Instead I just don’t feel great.
10:22 PM
((End session.))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana wakes up later that day.
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I yawn. Hope I didn’t sleep too long… I vaguely scroll through my phone a bit before getting up. …Breakfast. I look through the groceries I have been firmly established to have and quickly scrounge together something to eat.
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It was a normal breakfast. Good enough. I drink water with it. Just… water. I turn on the tv, I guess. Just background noise. Or something.
3:25 PM
Hm. Not really an urgent need to do anything, exactly. Scott seemed pretty lackadaisical about the time to get this done. Is that what that word means? I look up ā€œlackadaisicalā€. Yeah, it means that.
3:29 PM
Oh, I probably smell like shit after all that. I go take a shower. It’s a quick affair. I don’t like, sit there moping as the water runs down my body or anything. Just use a normal amount of soap and shampoo to hopefully cleanse myself in the manner those are able to. One and done. Quick affair. I dry off a little and then stare at myself in the mirror.
3:32 PM
Okay, well, I stare at the mirror. Which is all fogged up. Because I just took a shower. I wonder if this wouldn’t have happened if I’d left the door open. Give the steam more area, to uh, spread out? Not really an option, though. Even leaving the door open a little by accident in the past has been able to set off the stupid smoke alarm.
3:35 PM
I wonder if it would clear off if I waited long enough. Didn’t wipe it or anything. It must, right? A watched pot boils eventually. I engage in a brief staring contest with the presently useless mirror before moving on because that’s stupid.
3:39 PM
A lot of the time I bring a change of clothes into the bathroom when I know I’m gonna shower. It’s not like it matters; no one else lives here and the path from the bathroom to where I keep clothes doesn’t pass by any window or outside line of sight. I guess it’s just paranoia? Or, no, a habit picked up from when I didn’t live by myself. …I didn’t do that this time, though. I didn’t know… I wander back to my bed and stare at my dresser.
3:44 PM
Though, honestly, maybe that’s useless. I have a closet, too. I just don’t use it much. It’s so much more of a hassle, y’know? Having to wrangle with putting things on hangers. Even just folding up clothes to put away in drawers is easier, and that’s pretending I always have the decency to not just chaotically cram them in there. That doesn’t mean the closet’s empty, though. Newly equipped with undergarments, I head over and check it.
3:46 PM
It’s not that big. I didn’t have the money to afford some luxurious walk-in, and if I did, that’s certainly not what I would’ve fucking spent it on. It’s full of clothes. But if I almost never check it, what’s the use of any of this? It’s a good question.
3:51 PM
A high school graduation gown, kept as a memento. An absurdly thick sweater that would take up too much space in a dresser. An outfit I wore to a convention once. An outfit for an event I didn’t end up going to. Swimwear. Crumpled up on the floor. Now what the fuck is that for? I don’t have a pool. Boots and flip flops and sandals.
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…And a few articles of clothing for women. Not many. Even back when I was a kid, not buying my own clothes, I think my parents realized I more frequently opted for pants. It’s just more practical, you know? Pockets. So they stopped bothering. I’m not sure if these would fit. They’re like, years old. Whenever I last put them on. Might have just been whenever they were first bought, when I tried them on to make sure they fit. I stare at the clothing around me, and sigh. Am I really committing to the bit this hard? Who cares? Odds are Ariel forgot about it. Maybe.
4:02 PM
It just… it feels like I’ve lost somehow, if I back down here. Like I couldn’t take it. I’m fine going on these daring escapades, schemes where my actual body doesn’t have to be at risk, but I can’t even handle clothes. Is that ironic? Because I guess that’s a matter of pride. Of seeming courageous and powerful. A masculine impulse.
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I look over my options. I guess they would fit. Like, I was certainly done growing by 18, right? Nothing would change now, unless I’ve put on a lot of weight. I don’t really check… that. There’s a full-ass dress in here. Like, gown and shit. I vaguely remember my dad getting it. He never really had any problems with me dressing the way I did. I wasn’t raised by like, internet trads or whatever. But he chuckled and said even if I stay the same on ordinary days, I’ll want something special in my arsenal for when I start dating. Y’know, ā€œto impress himā€. I smirk. Not this one. Way too extravagant. I don’t want to seem like I’ve lost my fucking mind. There’s some other things under the category of ā€˜would raise an eyebrow if a dude wore them’. I pick out what I judge to be the most Womanly while not being completely infeasible for someone to wear casually. A dark colored pant-skirt, hard to confidently identify as black in this lighting. It’s still a little too… weird. But I guess I don’t have a sense for this. I mean, I should, right? I’ve seen women. I like them. I don’t know. I guess there’s a difference between that and what you are. I think of something, and decide that’s all I need from here.
4:15 PM
I come out of the closet.
4:18 PM
I turn off the television, noticing in the background it’s still on. The distraction has gotten annoying. Anyway…
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I remember hearing about how you shouldn’t mix the colors and the whites. In laundry, epic racism jokes aside. But it’s never been a notable thing for me. I just shove whatever I’ve worn the past however long it’s been into the same washer dryer setup. I looked it up once, and apparently that being an issue relates to cheap dyes that aren’t really used much anymore, so the adage becomes less and less relevant over the years. But it was relevant once. A red shirt. …Might’ve been a hand-me-down from mom. I don’t have it anymore. It came off a little onto a white shirt, leaving it an off-pink sort of color. This is the only presence of this particular color in my wardrobe. I keep it tucked away as just clothes to knock around in, basically pajamas. But this is the one context in which it could be useful.
4:29 PM
I hold out the two articles of clothing together. The colors don’t really go together that well. I mean, I don’t think it clashes, really. It’s just not something I think someone looking for a matching outfit would be likely to choose. It’s what we’ve got to work with, though.
4:30 PM
I put them both on. It seems like it all fits, at least. That’s good.
4:33 PM
I head back into the bathroom. It looks like the mirror has mostly defogged on its own, but I wipe it down a bit anyway. It’s a mirror above the sink setup. Whatever that’s called. I don’t own a full-body mirror. Why would I? But I can just use my own damn eyes to know what my body looks like below the torso, and form a full mental image with that. I look over myself slowly, and meet Dana’s eyes.
4:33 PM
I smile at her.
4:34 PM
It gives way to laughter. God. What did I expect?
4:35 PM
I don’t look like an actual… whatever this was suppose to do. I look like I’m wearing a costume. It’s not a very good costume, either.
4:40 PM
I clean up my hair a little. It was mostly fine already, though. I don’t know. Would like, makeup help? I don’t fucking have any. I’d have to go out and buy that, and I don’t even really know what I would buy. I never learned how to… ugh. The novelty of the gag wears off, and I scowl at it.
4:44 PM
Would Ariel also find it funny for a bit? I mean, this is for her, right? Who else would it be for, me? Certainly not. Ariel doesn’t really find anything funny. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her laugh. Which is weird. Being witty was like, my one thing. It was what people liked about me, I think. Why I was nice to have around.
4:45 PM
Maybe I liked that she didn’t. Tired of being a ā€œniceā€ guy.
4:48 PM
I’m not someone shallow and obsessed with appearance! So I just move on. I’m not going to do something psychotic like punch the mirror or whatever. I just leave the room. What you don’t know can’t hurt you. I stare at my jacket, draped over a chair.
4:51 PM
It’s a bit of a comfort. And a fallback option if I give in and decide the pink is too much. I do that thing where I tie it around my waist using the sleeves. That looks ā€œfeminineā€ enough, right? Sporty. Or whatever. I sigh.
4:53 PM
I… can’t go out like this. I’d be so weird and conscious of it the whole time. Yes, not quite like this. I open the fridge.
4:57 PM
Two. One never seems to have an effect. And I’m not trying to be an alcoholic. I just need to loosen things up a little. A mental lubricant. I have two drinks over the course of doing a few other things, like brushing my hair out of my face or finding where the fuck I put my shoes. I brush my teeth thoroughly, to make sure my breath smells not the least like alcohol. Just in case. I wash my face one final time and stare at my soggy-ass self. And then I’m done. There’s nothing left I can think of.
4:57 PM
My girlfriend lives right next to me. I exit my home.
4:57 PM
((that’s all I wanted yeah))
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((We can keep going if you want. Other sessions progressed enough))
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(( cereal2 ))
5:01 PM
(( sure yeah ))
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Ariel's door is slightly open.
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I… knock on the door. Don’t peek inside or anything.
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There's a noise inside. "...Who's there?" Kingsley. (edited)
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I lose my balance, and lean on the handle… knob, thing, of the door for stability. ā€œM…me.ā€ I… stop myself from thinking further about anything else right this moment. I’m not going to freak out. I’m not going to freak out.
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"Oh, umm… Come in." He sounds guilty.
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I breathe heavily. I don’t want to come in. What if I just took a little longer? If I went out to buy eyeliner or whatever stupid bullshit I thought of. Or maybe if I didn’t take as long. If I didn’t bother with this stupid fucking idea, or woke up earlier, and arrived before… I… I shove open the door and walk in.
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Kingsley and Ariel walk out of Ariel bedroom. What they were doing seems obvious from their clothes, which seem put on in a hurry. "Hi Dana!" Ariel.
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No, see, you knew. You knew that. That was the whole point. All along. Obviously. It was an open secret. Right? Yeah. Sure. This is your fault, when you think about it. You had your chance. The interruption wasn’t your fault. But entertaining it was. Especially when it didn’t even fucking matter in the end. So what now? What now, idiot? This is all you get! It’s not all you’re going to look for, but it’s all you’re going to find! Ever! Make your move, you fucking moron! SPEAK! ā€œGood morning.ā€ I say with a normal expression.
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"Isn’t it the afternoon?" Ariel.
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ā€œIt doesn’t exactly feel like it. I just got out of bed.ā€ I don’t cry while saying this, or anything in this conversation. Because I’m beyond this. I’m ahead of the game. There isn’t time to mourn the present when I have so much to plan for.
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Ariel hugs Dana. "Did you want to join in?" Kingsley stares uncomfortably.
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Her touch is poison. But the intoxicating kind. I guess I am an alcoholic. ā€œNo, I’m… I didn’t come here for that, no. To get in the way. I justā€¦ā€ Just what? Why did you come here? What exactly was the plan, here? The ideal scenario. That she just looks at your clothes, and acknowledges you’ve kept up your end of the jokingly proposed bargain? God, that was entirely it, wasn’t it? I’m so fucking self-absorbed. Even in the fantasy scenario where she actually thinks I look alright, that’s the end of the fucking interaction. Hahahahaha… so what now, huh? I’ve staked my claim in pretending everything is fine already, can’t back down there. But I can’t take talking under those pretenses seriously when Kingsley’s here, haha! I mean, he knows. He knows this is awful. I know this is repugnant. There’s a shared understanding between the two of us. So what, do we keep up a charade so at least one person here can be happy? Hahaaaa… I wonder if this is the sort of dynamic Lelouch’s bitches have with each other. Not that there’s a comparison. I don’t think Ariel’s that bad here. She might not have done anything wrong at all. I mean, she was willing to fuck me, and she basically said outright beforehand she was going to do this. I don’t know. Kingsley, though… god, it’s insane I can feel this betrayed by someone I don’t give a shit about at all. Your insane idolatry of me, was it some false pretense? To manipulate? I’d be mad if it was, because it doesn’t fucking work. I gave you the benefit of the doubt yesterday. Internally. Maybe you didn’t know. Didn’t pick up on it. You weren’t there for the conversation contextualizing my behavior. And you’re a coward. Passive. When a lady lets you into her home, and tells you to leave while not seeing you out and instead heading into her bedroom, how are you supposed to get that? Or have the spine to act even if you did understand. But noooo, you’re very active indeed, aren’t you?! What a MAN! What a rat.
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"I… Umm… She was- She forced herself onto me." Kingsley shamefully says. It doesn’t sound 100% honest, but he doesn’t seem to be outright lying either. "What? No I didn’t. I was just a little more active than usual. It’s not that bad." Ariel.
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Uh… ā€œClearly wasn’t much convincing needed.ā€
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"Well, that’s… I was-" Kingsley looks miserable. "Why are you 2 acting like this?" Ariel looks between them.
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ā€œLike what?ā€ I smile, slightly brightened through schaudenfreude. He obviously regrets it a little, but that doesn’t make it assault. It just makes you a sucker.
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Ariel thinks for a moment. "Oh… Do you 2 want to date each other too?"
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Yes. Ohhh yes. I’ve solved it. I figured it out. A self-imposed labyrinth of my own suffering, and I’ve clawed out of it. I know what I have to do, what’s going on. All this means is one more body she’s had sex with, and I’ve already accepted that number is too absurdly high to matter. ā€œNo, I… well, not necessarily. You’d have to ask him. Besides the point. I just, I needed a moment. But I get it now. I do, Ariel.ā€ I smile and nod. ā€œY’know, it’s… bisexual, can’t spell that without two. Both. He’s your man. That’s fine. That’s okay. Because I’m your woman.ā€ I clasp my hands in front of me and smile. There’s a genuine element of feeling satisfied to it. But not genuine in that way. In actually meaning whatever that nonsense was. Definitely. It’s unsustainable. As pitiful an excuse for a man as he might be, I’ve definitely seen less success as a woman. But this only needs to last a bit, as a way of stalling.
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"No, really… You can have her…" Kingsley mutters. "Oh, by the way, Dana. Grobber called." Ariel.
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Huh. ā€œHuh. Called you?ā€
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"Yeah, he wanted to talk to you. He just got out of prison, apparently."
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ā€œHe has my number. Why would he call you? …I’m more confused that he’s out, though. That’s… surprising.ā€
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"Something about Grace." Ariel. "Oh, I should… I should tell you." Kingsley.
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ā€œDid she manage to spring him out? Neat, if true.ā€ Not really up to thinking about Grace at the moment. I turn to Kingsley. ā€œ?ā€
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"...She's dead." Kingsley. (edited)
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. ā€œHuh?ā€ I further question the meaning of a sentence with the most fucking obvious meaning imaginable. Are you stupid?
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"Her body was discovered in Grobber Brentwood's home last night by Hav Kerloe and Matrick Patthew." Kingsley. "From what I hear."
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ā€œā€¦Huh?ā€ I don’t know what else to say. What? Who are those people? How am I supposed to feel about this? What? I don’t understand. There are too many things happening at once. I was ready… I was ready to keep going here… make progress on this front… which itself was a distraction from what I thought today would be… from what I was doing myself and what someone else was telling me to… do. I can’t react yet. Not on hearsay. I dial up Grobber immediately. ā€œWhen? Was it around the time we were chasing Johnner? And was Grobber around his home?ā€ ((if trying this call means the session has to end that’s understandable))
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"It was only a few hours after she left you 2. According to Howard, it was probably Johnner." Kingsley. Ariel is shocked.
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ā€œNo… no, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It can’t be. Not… the whole point was that he wasn’t likely to do it immediately. That’s not what happened. I didn’tā€¦ā€
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Grobber picks up.
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-grobber
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ā€œWhat happened? Why are you out of jail? Why was she in your house?ā€ I don’t bother with a hello.
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"You can't just..." A male voice on Grobber's side sounds exasperated.
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ā€œWho is this?!ā€
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"Fredrick Wight. You're live on Free News Network, for some reason, Dana." (edited)
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"You're on TV! This is my friend Dana. You got any big findings?"
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ā€œWhat?! I… haha! Ok, sure! Anonymity is overrated! Love the spotlight. Awesome. What’s the story, huh? What are you talking about? If it’s what I’m thinking, I might have some critical information for you!ā€
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"We were talking to the fungus about the fungus. Not sure how this involves you, unless you feel like confessing to crimes."
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"We're talking about the disease taking this city, Dana. We're talking about the truth."
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ā€œI’d like to confess someone else’s crimes, to be honest! It’s relevant. Grace went by that name too, right? Fungus? She’s a relevant party, haha! Hope it’s not a problem to out her culpability, I can’t imagine it would be now. The truth. A disease. I can get behind that, pal! The truth is, there’s something much more tangible than societal unrest to be worried about!ā€ My voice sounds a little hysterical, like I’m way too overexcited for the rest of me to keep up with.
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"Fungus, hang up the phone."
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ā€œDon’t you fucking dare!ā€
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"Okay I'm hanging upp last chance Dana!" Grobber moves his finger dramatically to hang up.
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ā€œCarolyn Blythe killed her! She killed Michelle, she killed Grace, and I could be next! Haha!ā€
7:25 PM
ā€œThe police won’t arrest her! I don’t know how, but they’ve been bought out. Some mob connection, maybe? I’ve got a lot of enemies I’m making right now!ā€
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"Yay!"
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"…Grace- That’s…" Fredrick sounds like he’s dying.
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"We're on every story. We're all over it. The Fungus has got everything!"
7:27 PM
"This story has everything!"
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ā€œShe ā€˜helped’ your daughter in more ways than one, Fred! Took advantage of everything she could in order to fulfill the requirements for her fetishistic murder compulsion. Hmmmmm, don’t think a therapist is supposed to get quite that close with clients! And I know she’ll find out about this eventually. Even if I can’t directly present proof, this’ll spread like wildfire. Especially when you look at her history of ā€˜jobs’ — that list’s the roster of a morgue, you know. Hah! Just a little humor. Lighten the mood for primetime. Anyway, when she sees this, I want her to know. I want her to understand that I could kill her in a second if I wanted to. But why would I give you that? I’m gonna take everything from you, Carrie. One by one. The only person I’ll accept dying in that body is a hollow, broken shell of a soul. Suck my dick! Call me later if you want to talk, The Fungus. This is live, right? Just want to make sure I don’t get cockblocked by bullshit here.ā€
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Fredrick squirms.
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"Okaydanaloveyabye." Grobber hangs up.
😊 1
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((Channel split))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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I breathe heavily for a few seconds. ā€œFuck. Fuck. I’m so stupid. I mean, he didn’t say my last name. But… shit.ā€ (edited)
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"What happened?" Kingsley.
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ā€œA declaration of war. Maybe not. Johnner’s dead, right? The big boss. Only person bigger is about to be dealt with. So this… this is just making sure to address what’s left. It’s housekeeping.ā€
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"I’m not… Quite sure how Howard is going to take it." Kingsley.
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ā€œHe’ll be fine. Seemed bored with the conclusion last we spoke. This is at least something interesting.ā€
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"I think… He wanted to be the one responsible, though." Kingsley.
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ā€œThe early bird gets the worm. …Besides, it’s not like a lunatic on live television can actually get someone charged with a crime. There’s still plenty someone can do.ā€
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"Right. True." Kingsley nods awkwardly.
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I finish catching my breath. It’s like I’ve just run a fucking marathon. I chuckle a bit at the irony of performing the most balls-to-the-wall gutsy move I might have ever done while dressed like an alien’s conception of a stereotypical high femme. ā€œI wonder… what happens now.ā€ I say quietly.
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"Good job!" Ariel kisses her.
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I maybe have an embarrassed expression at this display of affection. ā€œYeah. Thanks. I guess… That was an uncharacteristically good thing to do, really. I guess I was just mad… I couldn’t protect her. So I did the next best thing.ā€ I put my hand on my head. ā€œI wouldn’t be able to answer why I wanted to do that, but frankly, I don’t think anyone here is in a position to judge me for that.ā€
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"Of course not." Ariel nods. "But wasn’t I the one who was supposed to do those sorts of things?"
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I pause for a second, processing what the fuck that means. ā€œā€¦Oh, shit. Sorry. Yeah. I was just caught off guard. You’re more than welcome to the next… whatever the hell that is.ā€
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"Okay!" Ariel.
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ā€œThat should be the end of all that business, at least. Even if she can’t get charged with anything that sticks, she certainly can’t afford to make a move with all this attention. And god knows Jeff won’t be ordering any hits anytime soon.ā€ I hug her. ā€œI can’t lose you, Ariel. It’s too much. Even when it was someone who rejected me, Iā€¦ā€ I don’t finish that sentence. ā€œI need you, is all. Thanks.ā€
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"I love you too." Ariel.
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ā€œMhm.ā€ I stay like that for a bit, then pull back. ā€œI am tempted to right now try and, y’know, consummate this. But I just know if I even think about it that’ll be the exact moment Howard comes here to yell at me. So let’s just deal with that first.ā€
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"Alright! Good luck!" Ariel.
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((good place to stop maybe? i have no idea what im about to do))
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((Oh sure))
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((Saturday))
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"Alright! Good luck!" Ariel.
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((do i even fcukinf have a means to contact him i forget))
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((I think you can call him))
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I call him.
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"Howard Scott." Howard Scott.
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ā€œHoward Scott.ā€ I affirm. ā€œDoes now work?ā€
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"Yes."
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ā€œOkay. Anything specific I should know…?ā€
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"Just get him out of his apartment for a bit. Don’t make too suspicious if that’s possible."
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He lives in an apartment? ā€œOkay. I’ll get started on that now.ā€
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"And again, don’t let him die." Howard hangs up.
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I sigh, mildly annoyed I didn’t hang up after getting the last word. Mm. I eye my company in this room. Ariel’s one thing, but Kingsley… well, he’s essentially a confidant. I only avoid speaking incriminatingly to Howard out of habit. But I don’t like that. …It doesn’t matter what I like, though. Not at this point. The person I trusted has already decided he’s to be trusted, anyway. Assuming he doesn’t already know. What a mess. Not to mention the crazy person who knows what I can do. Wasn’t I supposed to try to kill him? Did a lousy job at that. Oh, but Grace, she gets to have the safety of my secrets ensured, thank god!! I— I stop this train of thought from going on indefinitely, because I did say I was just about to do it. I sit down. I can hardly remember… back when I wrote lists and charts, trying to keep everything under my control… What did I think was so worth scheming for, so worth the effort? I shake my head. ā€œSee you in a bit.ā€ I say to Ariel.
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"Bye!" Ariel.
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I write ā€œShuichi Maoziwamā€ on the relevant sheet of paper.
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Dana finds herself standing in a bathroom. She’s standing in front of a mirror, but not directly looking at it. Instead, her gaze is kept to his hands, one of which holds a knife at the other hand's wrist.
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Jesus. ā€œNot today, man.ā€ I say, letting go of the knife. Keeping my gaze closer to the ground just in case, I attempt to maneuver out of this bathroom.
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"What are you doing, Shuichi?" The voice feels like it’s coming from behind him.
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One I don’t recognize, presumably. Never the easy path. I try not to seem shocked if this is a guy who has just, I don’t know, been standing here with Shuichi’s knowledge while he considers killing himself?? ā€œWhat do you think.ā€ I mutter.
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"You know you have to do this. You have nothing left!"
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Wow, okay. ā€œThat may be true. I may recognize it… I may hate it.ā€ I grab onto the knife again. ā€œI just think you’re operating under a misconception.ā€
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"No I’m not, Shuichi. You know I know everything about you."
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ā€œStrictly speaking, that’s impossible. You’d have to be omniscient, to know everything about all else, too. It all connects. I think it’s much more likely your saying that comes from arrogance.ā€ I pay attention to the voice. Anything possible to discern? Gender? Age? And most importantly… is there a physical person in the room with me?
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The voice sounds like it’s coming from a woman, about Shuichi’s age. There’s no one else in the room. "Don’t lie to yourself. You’ve always been a terrible liar, even before I died."
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I smirk. I can’t help it. This… is interesting. ā€œNow that’s a funny thing to say. Very funnyā€¦ā€ I chuckle. ā€œIt seems we’ve both had a run of bad luck.ā€
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"You’re laughing? Do you think you’re better than me? You always were such a narcissist."
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ā€œI am a massive narcissist, yes. It’s why I cling to life so tightly.ā€ I twirl the knife in my fingers. ā€œEven without liking the person I am all too much, I still put them first every time.ā€ I shake my head. ā€œGhosts aren’t real. I apologize for being closed minded, but the idea goes against all sense of how the world works. But that’s not the interesting part.ā€ I’m grinning. Teeth showing. This is just too good, and I can’t take it seriously as a threat to the success of what Howard’s looking for. ā€œThe obvious conclusion, and the one I think you’re probably going for, is that you’re a hallucination. Tulpa, if that’s the word. …But you can’t be. You are not a manifestation of Shuichi Maoziwam’s thoughts. That isn’t how this works. It’s never been. So the question isā€¦ā€ I turn around, knife outstretched to the thin air. ā€œWhat are you? And why are you trying to pretend you’re what I assume to be my deceased spouse?ā€
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"Are you having some kind of breakdown? This is pathetic, even for you."
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ā€œA breakdown? I don’t know, but I’m certainly hearing voices. Well, think what you want. I’m just honestly curious. Sure you can’t give me a hint? Wolf to wolf, before we go back to pretending to be someone we’re not?ā€
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"…Have you lost your mind? Or… Are you so desperate to lie to yourself like this?"
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ā€œNah. I did entertain the idea I could be crazy, but you’re not even pulling from the mannerisms of anyone I know. I guess you probably don’t get what’s going on, so I can’t blame you for coming to this conclusion. ….For the record, a lunatic would still be less worthless than a corpse.ā€ I put my hand on the door if I’ve been able to find it. ā€œAnything else before I head out, or is telling me to kill myself kind of your one thing?ā€
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"You can’t run away, Shuichi."
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ā€œYeah. I know. So stop telling me to.ā€ How fuckin bigis this bathroom
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Dana can leave this is not stopped. (edited)
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I leave the bathroom on that note.
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Shuichi Maoziwam is in a large penthouse. The most visible exit is an elevator.
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I check his pockets for like, a phone or wallet or whatever. Just might be suspicious if I leave home in a state he normally wouldn’t.
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He has these things.
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Okay, cool. I call up the elevator.
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The elevator arrives.
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I enter it, and press the first floor. This is the floor on ground level, because we aren’t in Britain.
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Shuichi arrives in the lobby.
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He leaves it, unless stopped or questioned.
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He is now outside a tall apartment building, in the middle of Avengard.
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Okay. That was the entirety of what I was told to do. I turn right and walk along the sidewalk for a bit.
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"Where are you going?" The same voice.
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ā€œOh, you’re not chained to that location. Well, nowhere in particular. Shouldn’t that be a stupid question to ask, though? Thought you knew everything about me.ā€
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"Have you lost your mind?"
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ā€œSomething like that, yeah.ā€
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"Are you hoping a stray car finishes the job for you? Coward."
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ā€œI thought about that for a second. Like, does the method really matter? You seemed eager I do it specifically right there.ā€
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"The method is important. Are you really forgetting all your research into religious customs?"
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I speak quietly enough that hopefully only people who walk right by me think I’m insane. Or just have an earpiece. ā€œOh, weird cult shit? Am I actually directly connected to them… well, whatever. Ritual suicide isn’t a thing in any major religion. The closest is like, seppuku, which isn’t really for a religion, and those monks that starve themselves, which isn’t quite suicide. Wrists is a more crass and basic method. Whatever you are, you’d probably do a better job suibaiting by doing research online yourself, if that’s possible. You’ve probably got on the right track with this family member thing, but the vitriol’s a little weak. Random 15 or 50 year olds too obsessed with anime are a lot better at seeming enraged.ā€
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"Shuichi… You’re not making sense. Where did the reasonable debate go?"
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ā€œDebate? Jeez. He really… And you think I’ve now lost my mind? Look, lady, there’s nothing to debate. I really don’t give a shit about your very real death you went through, and I’m not going to fucking kill myself randomly. You’re wasting your time. But feel free to keep trying. The suicide… is this about Edward Blythe?ā€
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"Are you really so delusional you’ve started to believe that fraud? Face reality."
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So there is a connection. Makes enough sense. No reason to find it significant. Yet. ā€œā€¦You haven’t technically identified yourself. Just in case… you wouldn’t claim to be ā€˜god’, would you?ā€ (edited)
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"What? No. You of all people should understand there is no god."
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ā€œYeah. Checks out. Jeez. Real doomer. Actually, I guess if you’re telling me ā€˜you have nothing left to live for’, and expecting that to work, Shuichi must have a pretty dogshit relationship with his living relations, huh? Damn. Not sure how to feel about that. I guess it makes sense, at least.ā€
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"Why are you talking in 3rd person?"
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ā€œBecause I’m delusional and lost my mind. You already concluded that, remember? You’re on your own for finding a better solution.ā€
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"I’m starting to believe you’re not really him."
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ā€œThat’s crazy. It’s worth believing if it’ll make you cut the act out, though.ā€ This sure is a walk. Are people giving me looks? I really have no idea what I’m meant to be doing.
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"Magic isn’t real. How are you doing this?"
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ā€œI’m asking you the exact same question. I guess we’re at a standstill.ā€
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"It must simply be another one of your delusions, then."
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ā€œHaaaahh… oh well.ā€
5:50 PM
ā€œPeople will see what they want to see. What they expect. Even if they have to stretch plausibility.ā€
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"That is true."
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ā€œI mean, there’s certain assumed defaults — that people are who they say they are, obviously, but even things they don’t say. Like… gay people.ā€
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"Don’t encourage her."
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ā€œHaha. That’s a funny thing to say too, but I’m not the least bit interested in addressing… ugh. It’s just about what people think that is. Because straight is the default. And then, the things people take as signifiers for someone being an exception—they don’t even have anything to fucking do with the actual question. It’s like, how they talk and dress, and bullshit. Someone can be the queerest motherfucker alive constantly talking about the same sex suggestively, and without these agreed upon signals, everyone around them is gonna just… it’s like they didn’t see anything. Which is why it’s bullshit, I think, when people talk about something like indirect communication or body language as being important. Because even direct language sometimes just, doesn’t work at all, y’know?ā€
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"What?"
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ā€œHow long have I even been walking? I mean, no wonder he lost his mind when he has you constantly. Why evenā€¦ā€
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"I’m not a clock. You have a phone, you useless imbecile."
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ā€œSure, sure.ā€ I check my phone and confirm that unsurprisingly, a few minutes or so have passed. ā€œOkay, maybe I will get into. Is that your problem? That specifically? That’s her moral failing? That she’s gay? Nothing else? I just don’t understand why else you’d have responded to the mere mention ofā€¦ā€
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"The problem is that she’s like you. You already know that."
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ā€œOk. Good. That checks out. I was just worried… this was some weird freudian thing. Not that it matters, I don’t think… it’s just. It would’ve bothered me for a moment, I guess.ā€
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"What doesn’t? Everything seems to bother you."
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ā€œWell, this alternative bothers me less.ā€ I shake my head. ā€œMan, does Maoziwam really think his dead wife spends her after-existence as like, a minor annoyance? It’s so stupid. I’ve always hated stories like that — where ghosts are actual souls of humans with their full consciousness, but they do stupid ghost bullshit. Who cares? At least being tethered to one location by forces outside their control kind of makes sense, but the idea that someone he clearly thinks fucking hates him would dedicate all of her time to being an Epic Troll is so absurdly self-centered.ā€
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"…"
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ā€œI guess the story makes sense if you’re like, tethered to me. And so you want me to die so you can stop having to sit through this. Still, it’s better than not existing, right?ā€
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"Are you really that dumb?"
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ā€œI dunno. Probably? I could make some more guesses if I tried harder. Does this have to do with Ehn?ā€
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"You already cancelled that."
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I smile. ā€œI fucking knew it.ā€
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"Even then, how could that have anything to do with me? I’ve been dead for years before you created that ridiculous project."
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ā€œThat was the point, right? It was to bring you back.ā€ This guy seems kind of dumb. Maybe by just saying shit I can pull more info out.
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"Don’t lie to yourself. The only thing it could serve to accomplish was immortalizing you."
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Hmm. ā€œWould it really have been me? If it’s a legacy I want, there would have been other ways for that.ā€
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"Exactly. It was stupid. Profoundly so. Even you realized that in all of your insatiable thirst for endless value you understood that even if it were possible, you could never truly recreate yourself like that." The voice starts to sound less like a dead woman torturing someone and more like a man psychoanalyzing himself to himself.
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ā€œBut Ehn exists. And so do you.ā€ I think very hard about what the fuck is going on.
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"EHN doesn’t exist. That’s not what words mean."
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ā€œIf ā€˜Ehn’ is supposed to be a recreation of Shuichi Maoziwam… that sounds like it’s just you.ā€ I decide not to get into the fucking cat.
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"What is this lapse in intelligence you’re experiencing? Did you become braindead somehow? Really, people are going to start thinking you’ve gone mad. Stop this." Shuichi. Dana suddenly awakens back in her body as Kingsley attempts to give her CPR.
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ā€œAgh!ā€ I shove him off me.
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He falls over. "You’re okay?"
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ā€œYes, I am. Why were youā€¦ā€
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"You suddenly passed out!" Kingsley.
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ā€œYeah, like, a while ago, right? Were you doing that the whole time???ā€ Is Ariel here?
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Ariel is here.
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ā€œThat’s for… like, when people aren’t breathing, right?ā€
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"…Probably?" Kingsley.
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ā€œWell… wasn’t I? Even if I passed out, that doesn’t mean doingā€¦ā€ I shake my head. Whatever. ā€œAnd you were just… here.ā€ I mumble to Ariel. ā€œIt’s fine. I guess something happened that I couldn’t have anticipated. I mean, I don’t feel like that would have woken me up… but I don’t know why it happened.ā€
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"I didn’t know how much you wanted him to know." Ariel.
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ā€œRight. I see. …Thank you.ā€ I sigh. ā€œHopefully that was good enough.ā€
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"What was?" Kingsley.
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ā€œSome nonsense for Howard.ā€
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"…Oh." Kingsley.
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ā€œAriel, um… all the way back a week or so ago, when I was you, you couldn’t like, hear my thoughts, right?ā€
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"No?" Ariel.
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ā€œOkay. Okay.ā€ I sigh. ā€œIf he’s the man behind everything, maybe he works differentlyā€¦ā€ I frown.
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"So, uh… What now?" Kingsley.
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ā€œI don’t know. That should be all of our professional associations… for me, there’s a few things I should probably take care of.ā€
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Dana's phone rings.
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I check it.
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It’s Howard.
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I answer. ā€œHello?ā€
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"Good job. Like I mentioned, I’ll need you again tomorrow. I’ll call you when it’s time."
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ā€œOh. Okay, sure.ā€ I forgot that.
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"And tell officer Kingsley to get off his ass and get back to work."
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ā€œSure. Kingsley, you’re supposed to get back to work.ā€ I say this to Kingsley.
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"Oh. I am?" Kingsley.
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ā€œI guess.ā€
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He runs out.
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ā€œSo, whatever that was supposed to be… worked?ā€ I say back to the phone.
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"That’s what I’m saying, yeah. Watch the news tomorrow, if you care. His face is gonna be plastered everywhere."
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ā€œHah. I’ll keep an eye out. Follow up tomorrow, then?ā€
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"Yeah." He hangs up.
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Fuck! I was just about to.
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"Did it go well?" Ariel.
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ā€œApparently. Whatever was supposed to happen. He’ll be a headline tomorrow.ā€ I keep out and stare at my phone. ā€œBut he was never the only cause for concern.ā€
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"What are you worried about?"
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ā€œI just… I want to make sure I haven’t overlooked anything.ā€ I start pacing. ā€œMarco Gould’s dead. I have multiple confirmations of that even beyond experiencing it myself. Same with Kris Prat. Poor fella never had a chance. I don’t understand what exactly happened with Rumen, but I just have to trust Kingsley there. Jeremyā€¦ā€ I decide not to dwell on that one. ā€œI have to trust Johnner’s dead too, I guess. And that his boss is now out of commission. Now, that does leave other criminals, but in terms of relevance to us, it’s probably just about what exactly we can discern about Gordon and his motives.ā€ I stop for a second to catch my breath.
7:39 PM
ā€œBlytheā€¦ā€ I look online and see that she’s trending. I smirk, but confirm what it’s about.
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It's about Dana's public news announcement. It seems like she came up on the news again, if Dana wants to watch that clip.
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I guess there’s no reason not to.
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Grobber is alone on the set saying these things directly to the camera while checking his phone.
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They were fucking?!
7:45 PM
Ugh.
7:45 PM
All these people are the same.
7:50 PM
ā€œI can’t believe it. He actually kind of seemed like the one guy who was decent, but he’s a self absorbed lunatic. … Well, whatever. I’m not particularly betrayed by that.ā€ I yawn. ā€œBob Smith, though. That’s interesting. I think he doesn’t actually know anything, but it might be worth looking into at some point. The bottom line is that Blythe is dealt with.ā€
7:52 PM
ā€œIgnoring the possibility of whatever vestiges rise from the ashes of the past crime status quo, that leaves… whatever happened yesterday. Or last night. This night. Earlier today. Whatever. It’s probably worthwhile to check who did and didn’t die from that. We know we’re alive and that Johnner isn’t, so it clearly isn’t completely cut and dry. I won’t exactly be unhappy receiving information about the life or death status of Harriet, but… there’s only really two there worth caring about.ā€
7:57 PM
ā€œKite is… obviously a problem. But I don’t know who he actually is. And the other… the… To be clear, I’m not trying to advocate for killing anyone, to be clear. But Grace died because I decided loose ends were okay. Not again.ā€ I’m quiet for a moment. ā€œJade Lamperouge. She… I mean, we both saw it, there’s no clear explanation for what happened, what exactly that means.ā€ I look up her name, which I know exactly how to spell, a fact which makes my hair stand on end. She’s probably dead. She has to be dead. Please. I need this.
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0 results.
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Right. She’s just some guy. No reason to be confident in anything. They probably just don’t have this information. Yet, at least. She’s dead. I consider asking Ariel if she thinks she’s dead before realizing that makes no sense. I check if Lelouch survived, if I can. Mainly by seeing if there are any articles from recently mentioning her. She’s a big enough deal that definitely would have been news.
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Nothing new about her.
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Tch.
8:02 PM
Whatever.
8:09 PM
I hesitantly look towards the means I can confirm someone’s current status with. …But I still don’t actually know what happens when someone’s dead. Too much of a risk.
8:11 PM
ā€œOh, the amnesiac. I guess he matters? It hurts to even think about him. Confusing bullshit. I don’tā€¦ā€ I throw up my hands, overwhelmed. ā€œWell, you’re supposed to make these decisions right now. Anything we should do?ā€
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"I think we should sleep!"
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…Is it late?
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Fairly.
8:21 PM
"If you’re not tired, I have a solution."
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ā€œI don’t know, it’s just… short day. I guess it makes sense. Front loaded… uh. Yeah. Lot happened last night. Needed the rest.ā€ My heart is pounding. I wasn’t even sure that was a real thing. ā€œSo when you say… I mean, I asked what we should do, which, I justā€¦ā€
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"Hm?"
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ā€œNever… never mind. What did you mean by solution?ā€
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"I think you know…"
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ā€œM…maybe.ā€ It’s cool how I’m nailing this act of a shy prude like just for laughs lmao
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She smiles.
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… I won’t… run away. I put my hands in my pockets. Except. I don’t. This thing doesn’t have pockets. God I hate that. I avoid her gaze for a moment. Confident in my social deduction skills, I silently walk into Ariel’s room and sit on her bed.
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She follows and sits next to Dana.
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I discard my jacket. ā€œIn… a movie I like. The lead gets into an argument with his girlfriend after she helps him but also runs into an ex of hers. And this leads incidentally to a big argument about the disparity in, umā€¦ā€ I think of something and quickly lock the door. Just… worried. ā€œSort of a difference in their prior sexual experience. And I guess that they didn’t talk about it earlier? There’s like, a bunch of words exchanged about comparing numbers of earlier partners versus the ā€˜severity’ of what was done and… it’s all a little silly.ā€ I shimmy out of the skirt, spiteful towards its impracticality. ā€œI think in the back of my mind I was always annoyed. Like, okay, even if it’s a problem, you at least have someone. This can’t be worth ruining everything over. But at the same time, I accepted that those were… the terms of the world. Like not complaining a fantasy story has magic. Even though Clerks is obviously meant to be real life. I understand and took for granted what made sense as a motivation.ā€ I take off my shirt. I begin to question what I’m doing. I thought it would be less awkward if I didn’t make a big deal of it as like, the thing I was doing. Just kept talking. I think I just look insane, though…! Can I really just stop now? This is uncomfortable. ā€œAnd there’s a lot of stuff like that. Where I’m not sure what I think, compared to what I think I’m supposed to think. You just, you never make it easy for me. Not the opposite sex. Attractive. Not the same sex. Experienced. You do things and I… how do I even… Maybe that’s what I like… why I chose… you know. I’m not sure what it was you saw, though.ā€ I remove the rest. I wrap my arms around myself. ā€œI don’t know what to do. I never thought I’d get this far.ā€ I just kind of sit there. I’m cold.
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Ariel gets undressed and sits down next to Dana. "That’s really interesting." And then neither of them did anything but talk and sleep. ((End chapter))
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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Finale: Advehnt Guard
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana woke up in her bed the next morning.
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((?????))
2:01 PM
((I’m going to be courteous and provide the chance to confirm that’s what you meant to type))
2:02 PM
(( (Dana did not fall asleep in her bed last night) ))
2:06 PM
Dana arises from whatever bed she’s in in whatever state of dress she’s in in whatever room she’s in.
2:06 PM
By which I mean I do that.
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Harriet Kadin 11/25/2023 2:07 PM
((Awesome))
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Dana Craig
(( (Dana did not fall asleep in her bed last night) ))
((I forgot yeah))
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(( šŸ’€ ))
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Ariel is still asleep.
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Right. Okay.
2:14 PM
I silently put on the clothes I’d discarded last night. Gotta have something for the time being. While doing so, I go over my situation. It feels like everything is… so far away. So long ago. Maybe I just need to wake up more. Had a weird dream. Can’t really remember the specifics, but that in itself is notable. I don’t tend to dream often. And before that… oh. Right. This outfit. I… Last night, I… I head out of the room and see if Ariel has some way to make coffee or something.
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She does indeed have a coffeemaker.
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Okay, okay. I make coffee. Cool. …Two cups. Courtesy. … Well, I basically settled whatever the conspiracy shit was yesterday. That’s… that parts good. I check the news on my phone like Howard said yesterday, particularly if there’s anything about Maoziwam.
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Dana's phone rings.
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I pick up. A distraction. Cool.
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It’s Grobber.
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Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-and-grobber
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((Hi))
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"Hey girl heeeeeeeeyyyyyy"
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ā€œMm. What’s up? I just… I just woke up, dude.ā€
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"I'm in the bath myself." He starts filing his nails. "You got any big plans today?"
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Recalling what’s going on and waking up further, I remember that I’m annoyed. ā€œNot particularly.ā€ I mutter.
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"Niiice... hey. Quick question, you got any thoughts on Shuichi Maoziwam?"
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ā€œWhat? No. I mean, yeah, sure. Like, I know who he is. I think he’s kind of a shithead from what I’ve read. Why?ā€
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"You wanna break into his house and fuck him up a little bit?"
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ā€œGrobber, why are you asking me about this?ā€ I take an incredibly loud sip of coffee.
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"You like. Kill gangsters and shit, right? I'm just like. You know. I'm just a... you know."
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ā€œI’ve never killed anyone.ā€ I state honestly(*). ā€œI’m not joining something as obviously risky as that with as vague a goal as ā€˜Fucking Someone Up’. Do— do you think, like, I’m ride or die for you??? We met once, for some incredibly incidental reason, and I thought you were probably alright. Our solitary connection is that you fucked someone we mutually knew who is now gone. Is there a better reason you wanted to speak to me, or are we done here?ā€
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You hear a low chuckling from the other end, and Grobber waits a few moments to file his last few nails before speaking. "That's great, beast. Glad you got that all off your chest. I'm the perfect guy to talk to like that, so I'm glad you're catching on. Listen. Because you've been so loose with your info, I'll let you see one of the cards I'm holding. This shit all comes to a head today. Regardless of what you choose to do in the next hour, the two of us are gonna run into each other out there, and we're both gonna be swinging. Whether we're swinging at or for each other depends on the choices you make. My intentions? I've made them perfectly clear. I'm gonna be storming hell castle to take down King Kong Hitler himself, and I'm going to win. Haven't figured out what I'm gonna do after that, but I'm sure it'll come naturally. As for before? I thought I might get a few side quests in, or I might run straight for the flag. Either way, I'm assembling a band of merriment, and everyone that joins gets to sip off my best stuff. I'm pulling out the Fine China and the Mario Star for this one, so I figured you wouldn't want to miss it. I'll let you take the first sip if you pull up to Maoziwam's. It'll be obvious when it's about to go down. Dana, degenerate to degenerate, please take some time to calm down before you talk to anybody else. You sound pathetic. Figure out whose team you're on, or you'll be sitting on the bench the whole game. Okay love ya byeeeeeeee" He hangs up.
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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What.
2:48 PM
I sigh deeply.
2:49 PM
Does he think this is going to end with a fight???
2:49 PM
Shuichi Maoziwam is like, ninety.
2:49 PM
Either he's getting arrested today or he'll get away with it somehow.
2:49 PM
I finish doing what I was going to do, which is check the news for that.
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Nothing.
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Damn.
2:54 PM
So. Elephant in the room.
2:54 PM
She didn't...
2:54 PM
We, uh....
2:54 PM
Fuck. God dammit.
2:54 PM
I'm so fucking stupid.
2:57 PM
How did I get here? I'm in the house of someone who doesn't give a shit about me. Vulnerable. I'm making her coffee. The worst part is that it isn't even that bad. I don't feel... terrible. Maybe it hasn't set in yet. That I'm unlovable. But I didn't mind just having a conversation with her. The fact that that did happen isn't a problem.
2:59 PM
I just don't understand.
2:59 PM
No, I do.
2:59 PM
She's a nice girl. But everyone has limits.
3:01 PM
I always... I want someone else to act first. And they never do.
3:02 PM
Because I act like I hate it. I do hate it! I want to be in control of when things happen. But I don't do anything to make them happen. Not the right things, at least. I think. (edited)
3:03 PM
What am I even doing now? I'm fucking waiting. I'm waiting for some cop to call me and tell me what to do. I'm waiting for the only person I've ever had hope for to wake up. I'm waiting for any of this to make sense, for the news to update.
3:04 PM
So stop moping! Do something!
3:05 PM
But I have nothing to do.
3:05 PM
I'm not seriously going to take up Grobber on his offer, am I? I'd just be switching to listening to someone else's orders, and way fucking worse ones. If things have gone right, I've fucked over Maoziwam with no way to trace it to myself. I'm not gonna ruin that.
3:07 PM
I sigh. I need to do something. I need to do something. ...I do my job. I check if any of the applicants for work at the money laundering convenience store I run have responded to the request for an interview.
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They have.
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Great. I schedule some upcoming ones which will unfortunately have to take up my time in the future, since the world obviously isn't going to end today.
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Dana gets a call.
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Hm.
3:09 PM
I answer.
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"You win." It’s Angela.
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"Huh?" What.
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"I quit. Fine. Store's all yours."
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"Oh. Okay. Uh, sorry?" I don't understand what... honestly, I'd forgotten about her. Man. It's been one hell of a week and a half.
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"Fritz is MIA now. You’re pretending you’re the boss. Michelle's… Michelle. I think you cursed my store, in some non-literal way. I’ll be honest Dana, I think you’re a fucking horrible human being."
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"That's probably true. Well, I'm glad I made an impression." I chuckle.
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"God, you’re such a bad actor. I’ve seen the way you look at me, Dana. The way you pretend you could ever have a chance with me. Here I was, trying to let you off easy… But you just can’t stop asking for more, huh? Did you think trying to be my boss would make me want to fuck you, Dana? Was this whole thing about messing with me? You disgusting incel."
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It's funny, looking back at those days. I don't understand why I was so ob--huh? "W...What? What are you talking about?! I don't--Angela, what the fuck are you saying?" My heartrate is trying its hardest to kill me so this ends.
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"Well, bad news. I’m gone. You’re never going to see me again. So good luck being you. I hope next time you get horny you don’t drag everyone you can down into hell with you." She hangs up.
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"No, that's not true--!" She's already gone.
3:28 PM
Unbelievable. I wasn't...
3:29 PM
How can she be so selfish? Do you honestly think everything's about you?! I haven't even thought of your existence for a fucking week...!
3:31 PM
You're nothing. I liked you because you were unreachable and I was punishing myself. I thought you were probably straight, anyway! It was a joke I played on myself. How could you even know that? I'm not going to feel guilty because you happened to guess close to the mark! What, because I looked at you from time to time? There isn't exactly an excess of stimulus there, in your shitty failing establishment. I'm gonna look at the people who are there sometimes! I wasn't a fucking "degenerate". Why is everyone coming after me today?!
3:34 PM
Haaahahahahhaahaha... become your BOSS to DATE you??????????? Why would I have... I mean, I objectively didn't! I didn't choose that situation! You stuuuuupid biiiiitch. You were too busy asking why you never bothered with how. You could've DONE something, Angela. You were the one person who might've had the motive and inside knowledge to discover the truth of my shady acquisition, overthrow me entirely and finally get rid of meeee! But you'd rather complain, would you?!
3:35 PM
I finish my FUCKING coffee!! I feel so awake now! This is great!
3:39 PM
I smirk. I'm free of her! I'd already forgotten all about her, and I have a girlfriend now, anyway, wish I'd been quick enough to let her know that before she ran away like a coward, and it's not like The "Grobber Brentwood" Fungus matters either, and he's getting about as much action as me now, isn't he!! Ha! I'm on top of the world. Everyone's deluding themselves because my victory wasn't flashy, but I'm the one who didn't go to jail! I'm the one who, if she plays her cards right, never needs to do any difficult labor again in my life! Every enemy I've ever had is dead or close enough to it. I have connections to the police and to crime! My word alone threw the empire of a long-running serial killer into ruin! So yeah, I am fucking happy! I'm having a lot of luck being me!
3:39 PM
I've never in my life felt more miserable than I do right now.
3:41 PM
You want me to sit and bask in this mellow victory... to... all of you. The whole world wants me to just shut up. Well I--I'm the fucking bad guy, right? That's the last thing everyone I ever have feelings for says to me before they disappear forever.
3:41 PM
I sit down.
3:43 PM
I'm almost tempted to look around for some other drink, but obviously--Ariiiieeel wouldn't have that, would she?! She's just sooo perfect, nothing that she needs to numb or ignore.
3:44 PM
I pull out a scrap of paper from the item that changed my life. Which I am SO GRATEFUL FOR!!!! It pulled me out of that dead end I spent so long rotting in.
3:45 PM
It behaved weirdly when detective Scott happened to be asleep. I wonder if that was a fluke, or if trying something similar can pinpoint the specifics of the rule in that situation? I write 'Ariel May'.
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Dana loses consciousness. She doesn’t detect the gap in time, but she then once again wakes up as Ariel May in Ariel May's bed.
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Wow. Crazy! I look at a clock to confirm that some amount of time has passed, which is what this is about, obviously. Then I get out of bed.
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This succeeds.
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Mhm. So it does. I head over to where I assume Dana is. Hey, she can see this, right? Wow, I wonder how the fuck I could ever explain this to her? There's probably no possible way! I guess this is the end!
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Dana remains there.
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Mhm. I stand in front of her. Or like, crouch so I'm closer to on the same level as her. Kn... Actually, I just sit down next to her. Then I stare at her for a bit. At Dana. At me.
4:01 PM
I really am just… not there, huh? Wow.
4:04 PM
I’d tell anyone else it was an impulse. A spur of the moment thought. I’d be fucking lying. The second I understood how this part of my ability worked, the thought entered my mind. Can you blame me?! She herself fucking cuddled up to this corpse, didn’t she?! I turn my head towards Ariel. I close her eyes and kiss me on the lips. (edited)
4:06 PM
There. Someone else made the first move.
4:06 PM
Are you happy?
4:06 PM
Of course not.
4:07 PM
Yeah. For a number of reasons, obviously.
4:07 PM
It’s a farce. I know what’s actually happening.
4:07 PM
But that’s what it already was. So whatever.
4:08 PM
Congratulations. Someone showed up to sweep you off your feet and see you as a woman. Which you wanted, I guess??? Maybe?
4:08 PM
This outfit really is atrocious.
4:09 PM
Well, that was nothing more than what’s happened already. What if…
4:10 PM
I drape her arm around Dana, holding my back.
4:10 PM
Then moving… lower.
4:10 PM
Lower.
4:11 PM
Lower still.
4:12 PM
Suddenly, as if hit by some electric shock, Ariel jolts back quickly, taking her hands off.
4:13 PM
I look at my… at her… hands. I don’t even know what I must look like right now. Well, I do. There’s me right there. I don’t know what her face, which is currently mine, would currently… ugh, whatever.
4:14 PM
This is my only fucking chance. I try again.
4:14 PM
I place a hand under the hem of Dana’s top, and I…
4:15 PM
…
4:15 PM
I stop.
4:15 PM
I slap Dana across the face as hard as I can.
4:15 PM
See? All even now, haha!
4:16 PM
That’s how it goes with pervert characters. They step too far, but never too-far-too-far, and then are repaid with physical slapstick. All’s well that end’s well!!!!!
4:17 PM
ā€œā€¦You coward. You fffffucking coward.ā€ I say this one out loud. Whoa, that’s not my voice, now, is it? Really is a novel situation we’re in.
4:18 PM
I kiss her again. I wrap myself around her tightly. As if I’m afraid she’ll escape. As if I want to crush her into nothingness.
4:19 PM
I pull back.
4:19 PM
Dana’s expression still betrays nothing, obviously.
4:19 PM
I laugh.
4:21 PM
Could’ve just gotten this result much more simply. Made out with a poster, or something. Just a slight difference in texture.
4:22 PM
ā€œDisgusting.ā€ I give Dana a light shove, sending her toppling onto the ground.
4:22 PM
Oops!
4:22 PM
Hope nothing broke.
4:22 PM
Not like there’s anything to feel pain.
4:22 PM
ā€œYou’re really fucked up, you know that?ā€
4:24 PM
ā€œYou’re deluded. You say you want love, that physical pleasure isn’t what everything is about, but you’re a liar. You’ve never cared about anyone but yourself until the moment someone drugged you to change that.ā€
4:25 PM
I kick her body lightly. Not enough to damage anything. ā€œI bet this is some fetish too, right? Who knows. Why do you do anything?ā€
4:27 PM
ā€œI’m a lot simpler. What I want… I want your help. You were useful to me, so I led you on, made you feel wanted and valued. Why couldn’t you have been happy with that? It could’ve stayed like that. If you want sex so badly, hire a prostitute, moron.ā€ Ariel points a finger to her head to indicate a deficiency in common sense. Dana doesn’t respond.
4:31 PM
ā€œYou keep searching and searching for something you’ll never find, like that one story with the bird. Because the key element is where you started. It’s inside you. You’re not missing anything. No matters of the heart, no resolution for some trivial sequence of events. There is no piece you need which exists in the world. You weren’t built to ever be whole, y’know?ā€
4:33 PM
ā€œI had something to solve. I had to change my damn gender and tell my family to go fuck themselves. That’s already more meaningful decisions than you’ve ever made. And you’re the active one? What a joke!ā€ Ariel pulls Dana’s hair so they’re staring at one another, face to face.
4:36 PM
ā€œYou’re hideous. Jesus. Some people can get away with that if they’re decent enough on the inside, but… well, I don’t think I need to finish that sentence. And yet you still keep expecting things to go your way! For the pity people feel to just last forever. Get a grip.ā€ She lets go. Dana’s head returns to staring vacantly at the ceiling.
4:42 PM
ā€œThis could’ve been another one of your insane never-ending trains of thought, but you said it out loud. Why is that? Is it really for the novelty of hearing it in her voice…? I doubt it. You wanted someone to feel bad for you. You want me to hear it. To go, ohhh, poor Dana, she’s so damaged, she hates herself so much! And then what? She forgives you? Sleeps with you? What’s the endgame? Just get someone to think you’re the victim here?ā€ Ariel steps on Dana. ā€œISN’T IT A LITTLE LATE FOR THAT?! People are dead because of you. You’ve run people and businesses alike into the ground. Your family doesn’t exist, your ā€˜friends’ keep disappearing, and this relationship, well, gee, I wonder!ā€ Ariel puts a hand to her chin like from that one ā€˜hit or miss video.’ ā€œYou know this is basically rape, right? Or it would’ve been, if you actually did what you thought you were gonna for a second. I just… you do understand that, right?ā€
4:42 PM
Dana doesn’t respond.
4:44 PM
ā€œYou pussied out, of course. No surprise. Which is the right thing to do! But it’s not what you’d do, is it?! Make up your mind! Either be the bad guy, or do us all a favor and kill yourself.ā€
4:44 PM
ā€œā€¦And you’re too afraid to die.ā€
4:47 PM
Ariel stares down at Dana one last time, gives one last kick in the gut. And then she turns her back to her. ā€œWow, she’s sooooo mean to you, isn’t she? I guess that gives you an excuse to ditch her! But you won’t. You’re never willing to lose anything. Funny how it keeps happening, then.ā€
4:49 PM
Ariel heads back to her room and gets dressed, as opposed to all that occurred prior which implicitly took place while she was wearing nothing. Then, after sitting idly for a little bit, she enters the bathroom to continue getting ready for the day, and stares at herself in the mirror.
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Dana wakes up in her body. It hurts.
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I get up as fast as I can and I run.
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Kingsley is in the hallway. "Oh… Hi."
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ā€œYeah. Have ffffun.ā€ I spit out at him, teary-eyed. I head into my own home.
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"Are you okay?" He tries to follow.
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ā€œYeah. I’m great, John. Why wouldn’t I be? Everything is going my way.ā€ I adjust my jacket so I’m actually wearing it like a jacket.
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He closes the door as a courtesy. "Uh, do you need like… Protection? Or… To be told you’re going great? I can do those."
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I sigh. Being mildly annoyed by his nonsense is… a comfort, really. Better than the state I was just in. ā€œI don’t even understand why you’re here. There’s nothing to protect me from, is there? Everyone’s dead.ā€
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"Oh, no… I just. I’m supposed to testify later, at that trial you’re crashing. I was hoping to… I dunno. Talk to someone? In whatever way casual conversation is intended to work normally."
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ā€œTrial?ā€ I raise an eyebrow. ā€œNo one fucking tells me anythingā€¦ā€
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"Yeah… You just have to make the defendant plead guilty of a bunch of crimes, including yours. Then the whole public panic can just sort of… end."
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ā€œMm. Makes sense. The defendant beingā€¦ā€
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"Oh, I’m not supposed to tell you yet. So you only start after you’ve talked to Howard."
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ā€œWhat, he doesn’t trust me? I could fuck so much stuff up if I wanted regardless. …That makes me think it’s not Maoziwam, though.ā€ I ponder this briefly. ā€œWhatever. I’ll figure it out eventually. Least of my concerns who the scapegoat is compared to everything that’s going to go unresolved. I got a call earlier telling me everything will come to a head and end today. Which feels ridiculous. Either it’s already over or nowhere close to it.ā€
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"Well, it’s going to end in one sense I guess. Detective Scott's determined to close the curtain on Maoziwam today. I don’t think he’d lie about that. We are past the difficult part though. I don’t really think any platform Shuichi Maoziwam could stand on would be even remotely stable anymore."
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ā€œSure, yeah.ā€ I sigh. ā€œI just feel like none of it ever mattered to me. And I never mattered to it. So why was any of this even… I mean, it wasn’t for me. I’m some background presence that at most made certain things go smoothly. I kept thinking I was hot shit, investigating the truth, manipulating things, finding my friend’s killer, but… but this was never my story, was it? My pathā€¦ā€ I come to some realization and laugh softly to myself. (edited)
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"Ah, well… We all have our role to play. I think that’s what detective James would say. Maybe we’re all… Hot shit in our own way, y’know?"
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ā€œI don’t. Some of us have no place, alright? I mean, I’m… it’s a fucking character drama! I’m Clerks!ā€ I keep laughing to myself, somewhat forced. ā€œEverything else is just window dressing. All I do is have pointless conversations with people, like this one. And within that, I’m… …I don’t even get to have a social role.ā€ I avoid eye contact with my wife’s boyfriend.
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"Oh… Am I doing that badly?"
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ā€œYou’re fine. Great. I mean, it was stupid when you wouldn’t fire your gun that one time. Perfect marks otherwise. People like you, y’know.ā€
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"I don’t… Think that’s true."
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ā€œSure it is. Ariel likes you. Howard thinks you’re an incredibly important asset.ā€ I lie. ā€œApparently you’re not looked at unfavorably by his like, ideological opponent, or whatever. You’re the type of person people see as some well-meaning underdog hero. I… I guess I like you. In a sort of sense. Butā€¦ā€ I scamper to add some caveat to being nice to Kingsley, and can’t come up with something in time.
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He waits.
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ā€œā€¦Kingsley. You… want to be a hero, right…? That’s sort of your motive, simplified. Is the impression I’ve got.ā€
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"Yeah. I’d say so."
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ā€œI came in here to change my clothes. …And to grab a gun. I’m not even sure what I would do. Someone asked me earlier to join an absurd raid on like, Shuichi Maoziwam’s house? But it pisses me off to think of agreeing with him. So… something else. I’d do… something. I’d probably hurt someone. Maybe a lot of people. I’m no longer in a state where I give a shit. I think… you need to stop me.ā€
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"I don’t… I don’t think you’d do that."
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I laugh. ā€œYou’re wrong. God, am I really that hard to take seriously?ā€
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"It’s… Not that I don’t take you seriously. I just don’t think you’d hurt anyone. At least not like that. You’re selfish, and… And you often take what you shouldn’t but… It’s like Detective Scott says. Everyone’s selfish, right? We all do things because we like it. And… If everyone’s doing it, it can’t be evil right? So… I think you’re not so bad a person. You’re just… You. And I’d like to think that person wouldn’t hurt people. Because if you want me to stop you… Then you clearly don’t want this either."
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ā€œNo…! No. I don’t want you to stop me. That there was just… a courtesy.ā€ I head into my bedroom.
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He follows. "Are you sure?"
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ā€œYes. Why not just go completely apeshit? If this is a world where everyone’s like me… only looking out for themselves… what even is there to find? What’s the point? If anyone I ever meet will just be using me, why should I let them?ā€ My face flushes slightly as I note him following me into my room. ā€œKingsley, did you like, forget the part before getting the gun…? I mean, frankly, at this pointā€¦ā€
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"Oh, uh, I-" He backs away. "I just meant… I don’t think you’re right. About that either. Even if… Even if everyone wants something… Maybe what they want isn’t so bad? What I want… Is to be nice to you. And to protect you. And… And sure that’s not the most noble thing if I’m doing it to feel good like Detective Scott says but… But… It’s still doing good things right? I’m still making positive changes. I think you’re the same. …In your own way." (edited)
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ā€œWell—well, obviously I’m just letting you do that because it benefits me! Doesn’t that bother you?!ā€
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"But I’m just letting you let me do that because it benefits me. Isn’t it… Isn’t it nice to benefit other people? W-Without sacrificing yourself?"
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ā€œThat sounds like beta behavior.ā€ I say on impulse. ā€œā€¦Okay, fine. Whatever. Humans are inherently motivated by what they themselves can feel and perceive but this is inevitable and can still lead to what we colloquially call ā€˜selfless’ behavior. We’ve successfully reached this like, third-grade epiphany again. That’s besides the point.ā€ I take out an outfit that’s more on-brand. Darker colors. ā€œI don’t have that behavior. I hate when I’m not externally rewarded for benefiting others. I’m driven to want to hurt people this very moment entirely because I’ve been slighted by women I find attractive. That’s mass murderer shit. I’m an incel that can’t even manage to be male.ā€
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"Are mass murderers supposed to be male? Or are you saying you wouldn’t be if you could be a man?"
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ā€œWhat? No, I mean like, the stereotype of people who behave like me. I’m a woman. Biologically.ā€
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"Then… What’s the problem?"
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ā€œWhat? Be—because I’m fucked up!ā€
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"Are you?"
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ā€œYes???ā€ I close the door to my room and get changed.
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"I just… I don’t think I agree."
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ā€œWell, you called me selfish that time to justify the accusation that I was cheating on my girlfriend, so! Forgive me if I don’t really think it’s the way everyone ever is.ā€ I finish and open the door again.
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"I’m sorry."
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ā€œDon’t be! You were right. I mean, not literally, at the time. But I would. I wanted to. I took complete advantage of Ariel giving me an opportunity to have my cake and eat it or whatever. It happened to not work, but that’s a matter of competence, not some principles.ā€ I go to get a gun. ā€œYou don’t know me, Kingsley. Not really. You think you do because I ended up helping you incidentally, once, and then we had a few conversations. But that’s not enough. The ones who have known me the longest can’t stand me. The runner-ups… feels like I barely know any of them. Two of the most relevant three are dead. The third wishes I was. That’s Dana Craig. That’s how I operate.ā€ I smirk.
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"Are you… blaming yourself for Michelle and Grace Wight? How could those be your fault? You’re just one person against an unstoppable criminal empire! Even… Even I couldn’t have done that! But you did! Somehow, Jeff Johnner’s dead. And you’re alive. You got revenge. Nothing’s being asked of you anymore."
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ā€œYou knew the guy who blew Johnner up, though, right? Neither of us did it, but it feels like you’re closer to claiming responsibility.ā€ I sigh. ā€œNo, their deaths weren’t… well, Michelle definitely wasn’t my fault. I’m just saying they can’t exactly speak with any relevant testimony on my character.ā€
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"Then… Tell me. How is killing a bunch of people supposed fo tell anyone what you’re like?"
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ā€œIt’s not! It’s pointless. Just venting.ā€
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"There are… probably better ways of doing that."
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I sit down. ā€œI wouldn’t actually do that. Like, literally just that. I’d get caught.ā€
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"Oh… Good."
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ā€œBut I want to do… something. I don’t know. Maybe murder Carolyn Blythe. That’d probably be pretty justified, though.ā€ I put down the gun. ā€œFine. You called my bluff. I can’t really think of anything specific to do. I just wanted you to go against me.ā€
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"…Did I succeed?"
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ā€œHeh. No, you didn’t. You thought too highly of me and it went nowhere. I thought you could like… have me arrested, or something.ā€
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"Oh. Well… I kind of don’t want to do that. I don’t know what… Or how this romance thing is supposed to work. But that seemed kind of rude."
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ā€œR…romance?ā€
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"Uh… Isn’t that what I’m supposed to have with Ariel? Did I misunderstand something?"
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ā€œYeah. Clearly.ā€ I grumble. ā€œThat just seems unrelated.ā€
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"…How so?""
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ā€œI’m not her. And it’s not like she has anything to do with what I might do.ā€
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"Well… Arresting my girlfriend’s girlfriend sounds kind of like a betrayal."
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ā€œI don’t think she’d care. Especially now. …What about you? I’ve kind of side tracked all of this to be about me… but you came here to talk to me. What did you want? Was it really just to update me about there being a trial or whatever?ā€
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"Oh, no I just… I guess I wanted to know how people are supposed to talk. Normally. And try that."
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I snort. ā€œYou came to the wrong place. Man, what kind of upbringing did you have, for you to get like… this. Crazy.ā€ I hold his hand. ā€œUm. How… has your day been?ā€
7:55 PM
((HOW))
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"…Oh." He notices the hand thing. "My upbringing wasn’t so bad, I guess. Just… Didn’t feel like talking to many people. And when I did… It was mostly to accomplish something. My parents used to praise me a lot for being very goal-oriented. But now… I guess I just wonder what it’s like being you. Or… Not you specifically. But someone who isn’t trying to be a hero. I guess I never had that sort of childhood experience. Or… Maybe I never grew up. It’s hard to tell. Anyway, my uh… my day. It sure… It uh… It was a day, I guess."
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ā€œA day. Yeah. Damn straight. Isn’t it alwaysā€¦ā€ I sigh. ā€œMy folks sometimes called me out for not being motivated. I could’ve used some of that drive. Or any real goal. I stumble my way through life one step at a time. It’s not… great. I talked to people a decent amount. But always…. I don’t know. Always felt like a game. To get people’s attention, or make them laugh. It was a game I could be pretty good at. But that’s all it ever was. Now I want to do something else. Even though I don’t know how. I’m not even sure I know what it is anymore.ā€
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"Sounds like we should switch sometime, haha…"
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ā€œMaybe.ā€ I smile. ā€œI read a short story once. About a puppet who wanted to be free. Like Pinocchio, but it wasn’t that. The marionette finally succeeds and severs his strings… and he crumples into a pile on the floor. Without his burdens, his ties to others, he had nothing left to do. He was nothing. What a downer. Pisses me off, that kind of aimless angst.ā€
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"I’ve never read that."
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ā€œWell, alright.ā€ I avoid looking him in the eye. ā€œAre you happy, Kingsley? I basically bullied you into a relationship for my own perceived benefit. I feel like I should tell you that, and that you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.ā€
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"…Oh. Uh…" He doesn’t know how to respond.
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ā€œā€¦Yeah. It’s a hard question. I don’t know either. I still think I’m better off than I was a week ago or so. But it’s hard not to dwell on anything you’ve lost. Even just, like… the opportunity cost of things that could’ve happened but didn’t. And now they won’t. Even just assessing if you’re satisfied with one particular thing, it’s…. Ugh.ā€ I shake my head.
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"I don’t… I don’t think I understand what you’re saying. …Sorry."
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ā€œJust that regrets exist. In a convoluted way.ā€ I cough awkwardly. ā€œYou weren’t… there. For the raid thing, on Johnner. Or like, not the last part. Since you stayed back. So you don’t know about… um, do you have like, a confirmed list of casualties from that explosion? Like, for police reasons, or something?ā€
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"According to Detective Scott, there were 2 bodies recovered. Jeff Johnner and the bomber."
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ā€œYeah. I guess there… would be. That maybe means there’s theoretically still someone who wants me dead out there, assuming he’s not the bomber, but whatever.ā€ I take a deep breath. ā€œThere was… there was a girl. There. In the inner area of the… place, or whatever. She did… something. To me.ā€ I stammer through sentence fragments.
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"Oh, uh… I- I should probably get going. To the trial thing."
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ā€œOh. Um, okay.ā€ I let go of his hand. ā€œCā€¦ā€ My face scrunches up. It’s very difficult to even… understand what it is I’m about to say. ā€œCould we do this again? Like… every once in a while. I think… you brought me down from a breaking point, somehow. A-and I can help you not be so uptight. And like, more social. So you benefit. …Please?ā€
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"Yeah… Umm… Sure. If you insist. Friendship is probably pretty nice."
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ā€œYeah. That. Sure.ā€ I nod.
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"Yeah." He leaves.
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I’m alone again.
8:44 PM
I wonder what happened to Fritz.
8:47 PM
I make sure I have my phone and the notebook, or some page from it. And also, uh, a gun. And stuff I’d leave the house with. And then I… I head out…?
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
ehn-pc
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12: Consequences
Guild icon
Advehnt Guard
Avengard / dana-craig
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Dana's phone rings.
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I sigh, and pick it up. ā€œHello.ā€
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"Are you ready to close the public eye on this case?" It’s Howard.
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ā€œRight. Sure, yeah.ā€ I dejectedly head back inside and lock the door. No real need to risk doing this anywhere else.
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"What do you need to possess this guy and do your thing?"
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ā€œIt’s notā€¦ā€ I decide I don’t even have the energy to feign innocence of being able to do bullshit magic. ā€œI need a name. Just, a basic understanding of who he is.ā€
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"Ouroboros Stanley, the king burger CEO. He killed his wife and 2 sons last night, so don’t bother pitying him for every other crime we’re dumping on him."
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I burst out laughing. ā€œThe… the fucking… you mean, back whenā€¦ā€ I’m struggling to breathe. I try to force myself to stay focused on practical matters. ā€œI—and I’m just supposed to confess to what he’s accused of?ā€
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"Plead guilty. Dump out any info about your crimes you’ve got in there, don’t make this seem faked."
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ā€œGod. Okay. Fine. I guess.ā€
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"I’d wish you luck, but we both know that doesn’t matter. These things were determined for a long time."
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ā€œI don’t need luck. It’s never on my side, anyway.ā€ I successfully hang up after getting the last word. Yesss.
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Dana is alone.
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Haha… great. Glad I can be fucking useful to you.
11:41 AM
But then again… this could be a new beginning. No crimes to catch me on.
11:41 AM
Do I even care? What life is left for me without that?
11:41 AM
…I could do it again. Better. Smarter. I’m not as clueless as I was when I started this!
11:42 AM
I’ll make the world learn to fear me. Respect me. …Love me.
11:42 AM
I groan. I have the feeling it’s going to be a long day.
11:42 AM
I take the notebook and sit down.
11:43 AM
I write down uro… no, I cross that out. Ouroboros. That should be it. And then Stanley.
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Dana finds herself in a fully occupied courtroom. To her right is Naomi Kidink. In the gallery, Kingsley is watching. "How does the defence plead?" The judge.
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I look around. I take a deep breath. Or he does. It doesn’t really matter. ā€œā€¦Guilty, your honor.ā€
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"What? What are you doing? Don’t talk." Naomi. "He means not guilty, your honour."
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ā€œI don’t think that’s how legal counsel works, sweetheart. Maybe I’m sick of being told what to do, you ever think of that?ā€ I glare at her, then turn back to the judge. ā€œI mean, it’s true.ā€
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"Perhaps you should listen to your attorney, defendant." Judge.
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ā€œWow, seems like everyone’s an expert on what I should do, all of a sudden. But I said what I said. I can, right? It’s supposed to be a right given to me. Or is this whole trial a farce? Just another track towards a preset outcome.ā€
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Naomi facepalms. "Very well, guilty it is." Judge.
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No one even fucking told me what my crimes are actually supposed to be. ā€œWhat I have done… it’s murdering a person.ā€ I mutter wistfully. ā€œCould’ve had a family. I mean, obviously my family did. But the otherā€¦ā€
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"Objection, your honour. Speculation." Naomi. "Sustained." Judge.
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ā€œEveryone has a family, technically. I guess not necessarily living. I’d know.ā€ I cross my arms. ā€œAnything else?ā€
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"Defendant, this court does not operate on your time. Please be silent." Judge.
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I yawn. "Alright."
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Ehn enters the courtroom and walks towards Dana.
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Obviously there's nothing incriminating about hallucinating a cat and happening to follow it with your eyes.
12:12 PM
Or. Un-incriminating. I guess.
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Ehn leaps up onto the bench in front of her. "Dana Craig, I've come to call in that favour."
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I breathe through my lips, making an annoying sputtering sound. (edited)
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"Die." Ehn. Dana feels herself kicked out of Ouroboros’s body forcefully.
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"Gh-"
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Dana finds herself back in her own body. Howard Scott has a smug but resigned look in his eye as he aims the barrel of a gun into Dana's mouth. "Really, you should've seen this one coming. But I'm sorry anyway." He fires, splattering Dana's head across her floor. ((The end.))